Euphorbia genera

Wada S, Reiko T, Akira I, Shunyo M. In vitro inhibitory effects of DNA topoisomerase II by femane-type triterpenoids isolated from a Euphorbia genus. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1998 8 2829-2832. 

Plants of the Euphorbiaceae family and particularly members of the Euphorbia genus have long been known to yield latexes with irritant and carcinogenic properties and these properties have been associated with diter-penes of the phorbol class. Members of the Euphorbia genus also contain diterpenes with other skeletons, among them the ingenane derivative PEP005 (38). " ... 

Candelilla wax or cerote is a scaly coating on the stems and leaves of some members of the genus Euphorbia that grow in the hot, dry Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico and the southwestern USA. The waxy coating protects the plant from dehydration in the fierce sun and wind. To remove the wax, the entire plant is boiled in water, with mild sulfuric acid added. The wax is skimmed from the surface of the liquid and dried. 

Adedapo, A. A., M.O. Abatan, and 0.0. Olomnsogo. 2004. Toxic effects of some plants in the genus Euphorbia on haematologi-cal and biochemical parameters of rats. Vet. Arhiv. 74(l) 53-62. Cook, E.R, and E.W. Martin. 1948. Remington s practice of pharmacy. 9th ed. Easton, PA Mack Publishing Company. 

CjjHjjNO, Mr 209.33, [a] -13 (CHCI,), cryst., mp. 204-205 °C (hydrochloride). Bicyclic alkaloid from ladybird beetles of the genus Adalia. It is biosynthet-ically related to coccinelline, the major alkaloid of ladybird beetles. Homologues of A. have been identified in Euphorbia plants. 

Waxes are of considerable commercial importance, as synthetic materials have not been produced at a price that will allow them to compete with the natural substances. The most important natural waxes are camauba from palms of the genus Copernicia, candelilla from Euphorbia antisyphlitica, and sugar cane wax—a by-product of the sugar industry (Schery, 1972). 

Many plants of the Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae have long been known to be intensely irritating to the skin. Some produce severe skin lesions in humans and in livestock (Evans and Schmidt, 1980). Members of the genus Euphorbia are especially well known for their irritant and poisonous properties. Polyfunctional diterpene esters of the tigliane, ingenane, and daphnene types are responsible for the acrid... 

Similar mixtures of compounds are found in many species of the genus Euphorbia as well as in other species of the Euphorbiaceae. 12-Deoxyphorbol (20) is one of the most common toxic diterpenoids in latex. This compound nor-... 

Ingenol derivatives are restricted to several species of the genus Euphorbia. These compounds exhibit toxicological and cocarcinogenic properties similar to those of the phorbol compounds. 

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