purging croton

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• purging croton

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tiglium officinale
• Halecus verus
• Alchornea vaniotii
• Oxydectes tiglium
• Oxydectes jatrophifolia
• Oxydectes pavana
• Oxydectes blancoana
• Croton pavana
• Oxydectes birmanica
• Kurkas tiglium
• Croton officinalis
• Croton jamalgota
• Croton jatrophifolius
• Croton tiglium var. globosus
• Croton himalaicus
• Croton camaza
• Croton birmanicus
• Croton acutus
• Croton xiaopadou

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Croton.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across various regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. The species also extends its distribution to the island of Taiwan. Furthermore, its habitat encompasses parts of Eastern Asia, specifically including Japan. Together, these locations define the natural footprint of Croton tiglium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Croton tiglium is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground, typically developing into a robust woody structure. While its growth habit can be classified under the broader scope of nanophanerophyte traits in certain developmental stages or specific environmental contexts, it primarily functions as a significant woody plant. Furthermore, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing seasonal shedding of its foliage as part of its biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Croton tiglium is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests as both a tree and a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it is an independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 5.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

5.75 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Croton tiglium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its metabolic reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant's vegetative structure features ovate leaves that lack both thorns and spines. These leaves exhibit significant morphological variation in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 9.5 cm. The width of the foliage is similarly variable, spanning from 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, with an average width of 5 cm. The leaf margins are distinctly finely toothed, contributing to the overall leaf architecture. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Croton tiglium is characterized by its specific inflorescence and fruit development patterns. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in size, ranging from a minimum length of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Following pollination, the development of the fruit is marked by consistent dimensions in length, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum fruit length recorded at 0.2 cm. However, the fruit width exhibits more variability, with a minimum width of 1.4 cm, a mean width of 1.7 cm, and a maximum width reaching 2 cm. The resulting seeds are highly uniform in mass, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.2179 g, ensuring a consistent reproductive output per seed.

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.7 cm

Fruit width min:

1.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Seed mass mean:

0.2179 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Croton tiglium has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf.

Seed

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Phytochemistry
4. Ancient science of life

Leaf

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chemicals

Croton tiglium has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 12-o-acetylphorbol-13-decanoate, 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, AMYLASE, Arachidic acid, Ash.

12-o-acetylphorbol-13-decanoate

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Phytochemistry

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate

1. Phytochemistry

AMYLASE

1. Dr. Duke

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CROTONIC ACID

1. Ancient science of life

Crotin

1. Dr. Duke

Crotonoside

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Fatty acids

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Activities

Croton tiglium has 108 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antitumor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAIDS

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Croton tiglium has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include constipation, HIV-1, analgesic, breast cancer, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations