JPRHC | July 2009 | Vol. 1 | No.1 | 113-133
Page 113
JPRHC
Review Article
REVIEW ON PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL
ASPECTS OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA LINN.
SANDEEP B. PATIL*, MRS. NILOFAR S. NAIKWADE, CHANDRAKANT S. MAGDUM
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This paper is available online at www.jprhc.com
ABSTRACT:
Medicinal herbs are the local heritage with global importance. Medicinal herbs
have curative properties due to presence of various complex chemical substance of
different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more
parts of these plants. These plant metabolites according to their composition are grouped
as alkaloids, glycosides, corticosteroids, essential oils etc. Euphorbia hirta, (family-
Euphorbiaceae) is an herb found in many parts of the world. In Sanskrit it means
“Dugadhika” According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the plant has a reputation for
increasing milk flow in women, because of its milky latex, and is used for other female
complaints as well as diseases of the respiratory tract. The plant has been reported as
increase in urine output, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory etc.
Key words: Phytochemistry, Pharmacological aspects, Euphorbia hirta linn.
JPRHC | July 2009 | Vol. 1 | No.1 | 113-133
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INTRODUCTION:
Euphorbia hirta L. is a medicinal, rhizomatous herb distributed in Southern
Western Ghats of India and Northern East Coast of Tamil Nadu (1). In East and West
Africa extracts of the plant are used in treatment of asthma and respiratory tract
inflammations. It is also used for coughs, chronic bronchitis and other pulmonary
disorders in Malagasy. The plant is also widely used in Angola against diarrhoea and
dysentery, especially amoebic dysentery. In Nigeria extracts or exudates of the plant are
used as ear drops and in the treatment of boils, sore and promoting wound healing (2).
DESCRIPTION:
Euphorbia Hirta L. Family: (Euphorbiaceae)
Vernacular names: dudhani, dudhi
English