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Useful Tropical Plants

Euphorbia prostrata

Aiton

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Anisophyllum prostratum (Aiton) Haw.

Aplarina prostrata (Aiton) Raf.

Chamaesyce malaca Small

Chamaesyce prostrata (Aiton) Small

Chamaesyce villosior (Greenm.) Millsp.

Euphorbia callitrichoides Kunth

Euphorbia malaca (Small) Little

Euphorbia perforata Guss.

Euphorbia ramosa villosior Greenm.

Euphorbia tenella Kunth

Euphorbia trichogona Bertol.

Tithymalus prostratus (Aiton) Samp.

Common Name:

Euphorbia prostrata
Flowering stems
Photograph by: toony
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0
Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbia prostrata Euphorbia prostrata

General Information

Euphorbia prostrata is a prostrate, annual herb with branches up to 20cm long, tinged purplish, with numerous adventitious roots; the stems contain latex[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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http://www.prota.org
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An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The latex is used as an arrow poison[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
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Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Nicaragua to Mexico and central N. America; Caribbean.

Habitat

Disturbed places, gardens, fields and roadsides, usually on sandy or gravelly soils; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
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Website
http://proseanet.org/
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0
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Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.10 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The plant is a prolific seed producer. Most seeds will germinate at the same time when ecological conditions are favourable, especially during the rainy season. It is considered a weed, and can be a nuisance in crops due to the large number of seedlings[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Euphorbia prostrata grows rapidly, flowering and producing fruits just 12 - 14 weeks after germination. It can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year if enough water is available[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

All parts of Euphorbia prostrata are widely used in African traditional medicine[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
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Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The latex is irritant and blistering to the skin and mucous membranes and is reported to cause blindness. From different fractions of extracts of the dried leaves a range of hydrolyzable ellagitannins were isolated, including prostratins A, B and C, euphorbins G and H, tellimagradin I and II, and rugosins A, D, E and G. Flavonoids isolated from the aerial parts include: kaempferol, cosmosiin (apigenin-7-glucoside), rhamnetin-3-galactoside, quercetin and quercetin-3-rhamnoside. Other constituents of the aerial parts include the sterols β-amyrine acetate, β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and cholesterol. The aerial parts also contain the terpene alcohol β-terpineol, gallic acid, corilagin, 1,2,3-tri-O-galloyl-D-glucose, geraniin, and various amino acids, including n-valeramide and N,N-dimethyl-4-benzoxybutylamine. From the roots a myricylic alcohol and two triterpenes, taraxerol and tirucallol, have been isolated. Both flavonoids and tannins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, haemostatic, antithrombic and vasoprotective actions. The flavonoids furthermore have antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-tumour and antioxidant properties[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The ethanol and water extracts of the whole plant showed significant antifungal activity against the dermatophytes Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton simii and Microsporum gypseum in vitro and in vivo in goats and rabbits. The extracts cured the lesions caused by these fungi in 3 - 4 weeks and were as effective as benzoic acid. A water extract inhibited growth, spore formation, and enterotoxin production of Clostridium perfringens type A. Ethanolic extracts from the aerial parts showed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. An aqueous ethanol extract showed significant antibacterial activity in vivo against Shigella dysenteriae in tests with rats. A methanol extract of the leaves showed considerable inhibitory effects against HIV-1 protease, and a water extract against hepatitis C virus protease[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract administered orally to rats at 200 mg/kg inhibited 76% of acute carrageenin-induced paw oedema and showed significant anti-inflammatory activity when applied topically in carrageenin-induced paw oedema in mice[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Euphorbia prostrata shows strong seed germination inhibiting effects on wheat and a range of horticultural crops, including carrot, tomato, lettuce and onion[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A leaf decoction is drunk to treat threatened abortion[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The pounded aerial parts with pounded shells are taken to treat irregular menstruation. Ground leaves in water are administered against difficult childbirth. In Nigeria a plant decoction is taken for its astringent, vulnerary and anthelmintic properties[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The crushed leaves are eaten to treat amoebic dysentery. An infusion or decoction of the leaves is taken orally to treat fungal infections. The crushed whole plant is eaten with bread against kidney stones. In Kenya Maasai people chew the plant to treat gonorrhoea[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The leaf extract is applied as an enema to treat inflammations[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Pregnant women eat the boiled shoots, mixed with sesame, to reduce the risk of miscarriage[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Throughout the Indian Ocean islands an infusion of the leaves or aerial parts is taken either alone or combined with other plants to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and stomach-ache[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A bath with the whole plant is taken to facilitate healing of measles and other skin eruptions[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A decoction of the whole plant is taken orally to treat painful menstruation[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The leaves are rubbed onto wasp stings and scorpion stings[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Small balls of ground plants are inserted into the vagina to treat female sterility and painful menstruation. The crushed plants are used as a poultice for broken arms[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Leaf powder mixed with palm oil is rubbed on the head to treat headache. In DR Congo the whole plant or only the leaves are warmed over a fire, crushed and squeezed on the body to cure insect bites and fungal infection[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The crushed fresh leaves in water are used as a mouthwash and gargle to treat oral sores[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A bath of the plant infusion is recommended to treat insanity. In Angola a vapour bath of the whole plant is taken to treat scabies; the plant is also crushed and applied on the affected spots[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A decoction of the whole plant is used as an eye wash against conjunctivitis[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Plant juice is taken to induce labour during childbirth[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The plant is used in association with other plants to treat deformations of the spinal column[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The latex is applied to warts and abscesses[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is known to accumulate heavy metals from the soil[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Euphorbia%20prostrata>

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