Euphorbia tirucalli (Cactus-pencil) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Euphorbia tirucalli (Cactus-pencil, Kaktis-kréyon, Cactus-crayon) — family Euphorbiacées.

Scientific synonyms : Arthrothamnus bergii Klotzsch & Garcke, A ecklonii Klotzsch & Garcke, A tirucalli (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke, Euphorbia geayi C & G, E laro Drake, E media N.E.Br., Erhipsaloides Lem, E rhipsaloides Willd., E scoparia N.E.Br., E suareziana Croizat.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 7 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 131 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Bacterial infection: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia odorifera

   Plant part used: Aerial parts.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Vale VV (2011)

     Excerpt The results showed that the extract of fresh avelós presented antimicrobial activity on the growth of the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella typhi, Citrobacter freundii, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Serratia odorifera, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, with the formation of inhibition zones ranging from 9,0 to 20,0 mm in diameter. A widely used medicinal plant in northeastern Brazil is the Euphorbia tirucalli Linneau, popularly known as avelós or stick-naked, which has activity in treating various diseases without scientific proof of its efficiency & safety.

   • According to Palharini JG (2017)

     Excerpt Eutirucallin is a lectin isolated from the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli, a plant known for its medical properties. The present study explores various characteristics of Eutirucallin including stability, cytotoxicity against tumor cells, antimicrobial & antiparasitic activities.

   • According to Ibrahim E (2018)

     Excerpt The Euphorbiaceae family, mainly Euphorbia tirucalli, is used in some traditional medicine, & has evidence that its latex comprises immunomodulatory properties & cytokine production. The extract showed antibacterial & antifungal activities.

   • According to Sugumar S (2010)

     Excerpt Euphorbia tirucalli stem extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol & water) were used for analysing their potential phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial property. Antimicrobial activity results revealed that MTOH extract showed the maximum activity, where as the petroleum ether, chloroform & water extract shows very less activity or no activity against the microbial strains used in this study.

   • According to Sultan S (2016)

     Excerpt The antifungal effect of Euphorbia tirucalli L. The significant antifungal activity was achieved in methanol & aqueous extracts which had mean inhibition zone of 15.33±0.88 mm & 17.33±0.33 mm respectively for C.

2. 2

   Cancer: adjuvant treatment for lymphoma and melanoma

   Plant part used: Aerial parts.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Cataluña P (1999)

     Excerpt Good examples of the last statement are the prototypes TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) & de 4-deoxyphorbol that induce the Burkitt's lymphoma and the nasopharyngeo carcinoma development, which are endemical in places where the plant ET is widely distributed in the environment. The cancer management with ET presents no scientifical basis, at least up to the moment, since the phorbol esters have already presented tumor-promoting ability.

   • According to Silva VAO (2018)

     Excerpt Euphol showed a cytotoxicity effect against several cancer cell lines (IC50 range, 1.41-38.89 µM), particularly in esophageal squamous cell (11.08 µM) & pancreatic carcinoma cells (6.84 µM), followed by prostate, melanoma, & colon cancer. tirucalli in a panel of 73 human cancer lines from 15 tumor types.

   • According to Do Caxito ML (2017)

     Excerpt The antiproliferative activity of extracts, in concentrations of 62, 125, 250, & 500 μg mL-1, was tested against leukemia (HL-60), lymphoma (Daudi) & melanoma (B16F10) cell lines using méthyl thiazol tetrazolium assay (MTT). To investigate Euphorbia tirucalli extract for probable geographic variations in its antiproliferative activity.

   • According to Valadares MC (2006)

     Excerpt Treatment of these animals with Euphorbia tirucalli L. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, which were dramatically increased in tumour bearers, was also abrogated by the treatment with the plant extract.

   • According to DE SOUZA LS (2023)

     Excerpt Therefore, the greater cytotoxic activity of the ETOH extract of the aerial parts of ET for gastric cancer, when compared to latex, seems to originate from the antiproliferative effects of ellagic acid & triterpenes. Ethanol extract from the aerial parts of Euphorbia tirucalli L.

3. 3

   Dental caries: Streptococcus nutans & S. sobrinus

   Plant part used: Shaft.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Khalil Lafi Aljabarin (2014)

     Excerpt Khalil Lafi Aljabarin et al, Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Euphorbia tirucalli Extracts & the Effect of Latex on Growth & Viability of Mouse Breast Cancer Cells EMT-6 / IOSR Jl of Dental & Med Sci, (IOSR-JDMS), 13(3) :59-63, 2014-.

   • According to Ibrahim E (2018)

     Excerpt The Euphorbiaceae family, mainly Euphorbia tirucalli, is used in some traditional medicine, & has evidence that its latex comprises immunomodulatory properties & cytokine production. The extract showed antibacterial & antifungal activities.

   • According to Sugumar S (2010)

     Excerpt Euphorbia tirucalli stem extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol & water) were used for analysing their potential phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial property. Antimicrobial activity results revealed that MTOH extract showed the maximum activity, where as the petroleum ether, chloroform & water extract shows very less activity or no activity against the microbial strains used in this study.

   • According to Sultan S (2016)

     Excerpt The antifungal effect of Euphorbia tirucalli L. The significant antifungal activity was achieved in methanol & aqueous extracts which had mean inhibition zone of 15.33±0.88 mm & 17.33±0.33 mm respectively for C.

   • According to Vale VV (2011)

     Excerpt A widely used medicinal plant in northeastern Brazil is the Euphorbia tirucalli Linneau, popularly known as avelós or stick-naked, which has activity in treating various diseases without scientific proof of its efficiency & safety. The results showed that the extract of fresh avelós presented antimicrobial activity on the growth of the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella typhi, Citrobacter freundii, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Serratia odorifera, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, with the formation of inhibition zones ranging from 9,0 to 20,0 mm in diameter.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.