Common Spurge

Names

Common Names

• Asthma-plant
• Chickenweed
• asthmaplant
• garden spurge
• pill-bearing spurge
• Ara tanan
• Asthma Weed
• Pillpod Sandmat
• Pillpod Spurge
• Queensland Asthma-Weed
• Red Euphorbia
• Saoo
• hairy spurge

Regional and Traditional Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Desmonema hirta
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. humifusa
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. rubromaculata
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. viridis
• Ditrita hirta
• Euphorbia chrysochaeta
• Chamaesyce hirta
• Euphorbia capitata
• Chamaesyce hirta var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia bancana
• Chamaesyce hirta f. glaberrima
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. discolor
• Chamaesyce hirta f. litoralis
• Euphorbia nodiflora
• Chamaesyce gemella
• Euphorbia obliterata
• Chamaesyce pekinensis var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia karwinskyi
• Chamaesyce pilulifera var. glaberrima
• Chamaesyce karwinskyi
• Euphorbia hirta var. destituta
• Chamaesyce rosei
• Euphorbia hirta var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia gemella
• Euphorbia globulifera
• Chamaesyce hirta var. laeticincta
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. arechavaletae
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. glabrescens
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. guaranitica
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. hirta
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. obliterata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Euphorbia.

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented across the countries of Egypt, Libya, and Morocco. The species also extends into the Macaronesia region, specifically found in Cape Verde. Furthermore, its range reaches into West Tropical Africa, where it is located in Benin. Together, these locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of the species.

Plant Parts

Chemicals

Euphorbia hirta has 78 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Flavonoids, Saponins, quercetin, Glycosides.

Tannins

1. F1000Research
2. BioMed research international
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
5. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. F1000Research
2. BioMed research international
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. PloS one
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Saponins

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. PloS one
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Glycosides

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT

Cardiac Glycosides

1. F1000Research
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Flavonoid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Archives of microbiology

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Activities

Euphorbia hirta has 427 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anticancer, Antispasmodic, Antiallergic.

Most Reported Activities

Medicinal Uses

Euphorbia hirta has 40 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, Helicobacter pylori, colic, cough, diarrhea.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations