Margaritaria

Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) Webster [madlozini. Pheasant berry] (Euphorbiaceae) root bark decoction is used for headache. The root bark contains flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols and tannins (15). The plant also has strong anti-Candida activity (64). 

The distribution of Securinega alkaloids is restricted to the PhyUantha-ceae family and more precisely to the genera Securinega, Phyllanthus, Breynia, and Margaritaria. PhyUanthaceae, which was first proposed as a plant family by Martinov (or Martynov) in 1820, was separated from Euphorbiaceae by Hoffinann in 2006 and now is included in the APGIII classification. However, Securinega alkaloids are often stiU referred to the Euphorbiaceae family even in the contemporary Hterature. 

PhyUanthine (17) was also isolated from Margaritaria indica and Phyllati-thus simplex Retz. Compound 17 is the H4-epimer of 4-epiphyllanthine (18) and the H2-epimer of securitinine (19)... 

Helicoidal architectures have also been found in the epicarp of different fruits (Figure 17.5). The first observation of this phenomenon was reported by D. Lee in 1991 in Elaeocarpus. Recently, similar structures have been observed in the fruit of Margaritaria nobilis and Pollia condensate. While all the other published examples of helicoidal architectures (both in cellulose and chitin) are left-handed, the fruit of Pollia condensata has also cell walls with right-handed orientation of the cellulose structures. 

Euphorbiaceae Croton, Hura, Margaritaria, Richeria, Scq>ium StercuUaceae Guazuma... 

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