EUPHORBIA FUSIFORMIS: A RARE, VERSATILE SPECIES – A REVIEW

Euphorbia fusiformis Buch.-Ham.ex D. Don, (Synonym: Euphorbia acaulis Roxb) is an infrequent, medicinal, geophytic herb of the family Euphorbiaceae.  It is distributed only in few pockets of India, Nepal, Africa and China. In India, it is found to grow in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Traditionally, local tribal people of India had been using this plant to treat headache, arthritis, gout, paralysis, diarrhoea, abdominal diseases, abdominal tumor, liver disorders, urinary stones, chronic wound cracks, skin disease, eczema and poor lactation. In scorpion and snake bites, plant latex was used as an antidote. Phytochemical analysis of the plant demonstrated the presence of number of primary and secondary metabolites such as flavonoid, phenol, proteins, saponin, phytosterol, triterpenoids, fixed oil and fats. It also contains vitamin C, vitamin E, and minerals. Some of the important phytoconstituents found in roots of Euphorbia fusiformis are Caudicifolin, Ellagic acid, 3, 3′-di-O methylellagic acid and Euphol. Sesquiterpenes, aliphatic compounds and small amount of monoterpenes are mainly found in oil. It has been reported that E. fusiformis possess variety of pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antifungal, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hepato-protective, antinociceptive, and galactagogue. Also the plant is being evaluated for its use in female infertility. In this review, an attempt has been made to compile comprehensive updated information of Euphorbia fusiformis.