Euphorbia ingens

A number of plant toxins are cyclic members of this series. Huratoxin is the piscicidal constituent of Hura crepitans (Euphorbiaceae). X-Ray analysis showed 34 jjg structure [117 R - H, R = CH CH-CH CH(CH2)8Me] was related to daphnetoxin (117 R = H, R = Ph). Mezerein (117) which is the toxic principle of Daphne mezereum, containsthe cinnamylidene acetic ester (R ) and orthobenzoate (R ) units. Ingenol (118), as its 3-hexadecanoic acid ester, is an irritant isolated from Euphorbia ingens Its structure was determined by X-ray analysis of the triacetate. 

As the definitive work, Heinerman dtes Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa by John Mitchell Watt and Maria Gerdina Breyer-Brandwijk. Although specific cancer references are not explicitly mentioned, Heinerman and other scientists have deduced a few such as Senecio serratus, Cheilanthes hirsuta. Euphorbia ingens, Podaxis pistillaris, and Raphionacme hirsuta. The coauthor and chemist Dr. Maria G. Breyer-Brandwijk said that most of the cancer treatments cited were for local, rather than internal, appUcation. 

Occurrence I. occurs as the 0-3-, 0-5-, or 0-20-monoesters and as the 3,20-O-diester in many Euphor-biaceae, e. g.. Euphorbia ingens. The acid components are mainly highly unsaturated carboxylic acids. Esters of 5- and 20-deoxyingenol, 13- and 16-hydroxyinge-nol, and of 16-hydroxy-20-deoxyingenol have been isolated. 

Lathyranes are, for the most part, isolated from Euphorbiaeeae. Representatives include 7p-hydroxylathyrol from Euphorbia lathyris, the cinnamic acid esters denoted as joUcinols from E. jolkini, and ingol, a skin-irritating and antineoplastic hydrolyzate obtained from E. ingens and E. kamerunica. 

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