Common Name:

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[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The latex is used as an arrow poison[].

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[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.10 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

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[].
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

All parts of Euphorbia prostrata are widely used in African traditional medicine[].
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[].
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[].
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[].
Euphorbia prostrata shows strong seed germination inhibiting effects on wheat and a range of horticultural crops, including carrot, tomato, lettuce and onion[].

A leaf decoction is drunk to treat threatened abortion[]. 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[]. 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[].
The leaf extract is applied as an enema to treat inflammations[]. Pregnant women eat the boiled shoots, mixed with sesame, to reduce the risk of miscarriage[]. 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[]. A bath with the whole plant is taken to facilitate healing of measles and other skin eruptions[]. A decoction of the whole plant is taken orally to treat painful menstruation[].
The leaves are rubbed onto wasp stings and scorpion stings[]. 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[]. 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[]. The crushed fresh leaves in water are used as a mouthwash and gargle to treat oral sores[]. 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[]. A decoction of the whole plant is used as an eye wash against conjunctivitis[].

Plant juice is taken to induce labour during childbirth[].

The plant is used in association with other plants to treat deformations of the spinal column[].

The latex is applied to warts and abscesses[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is known to accumulate heavy metals from the soil[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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