Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_hirta#/media/File:Starr_080604-5935_Chamaesyce_hirta.jpg
Common name Asthma-plant
Plant family Euphorbiaceae
Parts used Aerial parts
Qualities Bitter, pungent, cool (Holmes, 2007).
Constituents
Afzelin (I), quercitrin (II), and myricitrin (III), rutin (IV), quercitin (V), euphorbin-A (VI), euphorbin-B (VII), euphorbin-C (VIII), euphorbin-D (IX), 2,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose, 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose, kaempferol, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid, β-amyrin, 24-methylenecycloartenol, β-sitosterol, heptacosane, nnonacosane, shikmic acid, tinyatoxin, choline, camphol, and quercitol derivatives containing rhamnose and chtolphenolic acid (Kumar, Malhotra & Kumar, 2010).
Actions
Expectorant, anti-asthmatic, spasmolytic, anti-protozoal (Bone, 2003). Hypotensive, tonic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, galactogenic, antidiarrheal, anticancer, antioxidant, antiamoebic, and antifungal, also anti-fertility (Kumar, Malhotra & Kumar, 2010). Galactagogue (Bone & Mills, 2013).
Indications
Graves advises that the milky sap of the plant can be used to 'eat off warts' and that it has a generally corrosive effect on the skin (Graves & Morries, 1834)
Grieve recommends the herb be used for asthmatic conditions, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema; also for hay fever and cases of coryza; She advises that it is appropriate for both subacute and chronic respiratory inflammation (Grieve, 1971).
In a rat study, Euphorbia hirta extract was shown to exert an inhibitory
effect on platelet aggregation; another rat study has shown that Euphorbia hirta has anti-anaphylactic activity (Kumar, Malhotra & Kumar, 2010).
Spasmodic forms of asthma can be treated with the herb, as it promotes expectoration and has bronchodilatory properties (Sarris & Wardle, 2010).
Useful in treatment of acute enteritis and dysentery (Iwu, 2014).
Has been shown to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum, a protozoan parasite known to cause malaria in humans (Liu, Murakami, Ji, Abreu & Zhang, 2007).
E. hirta has been shown to inhibit growth of the E coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtili and Klebsiella pneumonia (Suresh, Deepa, Harisaranraj & Vaira Achudhan, 2008) and anti-amoebic action upon Entamoeba histolytica (Tona et al., 2000).
Bone and Mills recommend the herb as a galactagogue (Bone & Mills, 2013); this property has been demonstrated in guinea pigs (Blanc, Bertrand, de Saqui-Sannes & Lescure, 1963).
Cautions/Contraindications
Should not be used in males who are trying to conceive, E hirta has shown the ability to reduce sperm motility (Kumar, Malhotra & Kumar, 2010).
Dosage
Per day, 0.7-2.0 ml of 1:2 liquid extract, per week 5-12 ml 1:2 liquid extract (Bone, 2003).
References
Blanc, P., Bertrand, P., de Saqui-Sannes, G., & Lescure, R. (1963). Galactogenic properties of plants of the African flora: Sersalisia djalonensis and Euphorbia hirta. Annales De Biologie Clinique, 21(829).
Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs. Edinburgh [u.a.]: Churchill Livingstone.
Holmes, P. (2007). The energetics of Western herbs. Cotati, Calif.: Snow Lotus Press.
Graves, G., & Morries, J. (1834). Hortus medicus, or figures and descriptions of the more important plants used in medicine. Edinburgh: Black.
Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. New York: Dover Publications.
Iwu, M. (2014). Handbook of African medicinal plants (2nd ed.).
Kumar, S., Malhotra, R., & Kumar, D. (2010). Euphorbia hirta: Its chemistry, traditional and medicinal uses, and pharmacological activities. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 4(7), 58. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.65327
Liu, Y., Murakami, N., Ji, H., Abreu, P., & Zhang, S. (2007). Antimalarial Flavonol Glycosides from Euphorbia hirta. Pharmaceutical Biology, 45(4), 278-281. doi:10.1080/13880200701214748
Sarris, J., & Wardle, J. (2010). Clinical Naturopathy: An Evidence-based Guide to Practice. Churchill Livingstone.
Suresh, K., Deepa, P., Harisaranraj, R., & Vaira Achudhan, V. (2008). Antimicrobial and phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Carica papaya L., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Euphorbia hirta L., Melia azedarach L. and Psidium guajava. Ethnobotanical Leaflets, 12, 1184-1189.
Tona, L., Kambu, K., Ngimbi, N., Mesia, K., Penge, O., & Lusakibanza, M. et al. (2000). Antiamoebic and spasmolytic activities of extracts from some antidiarrhoeal traditional preparations used in Kinshasa, Congo. Phytomedicine, 7(1), 31-38. doi:10.1016/s0944-7113(00)80019-7