"Euphorbia hirta Linn. (Asthma Plant): Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities"

Euphorbia Hirta Linn. is an herbal drug which belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is used for the treatment of different disorders. The plant is rich in biologically active phytoconstituents which include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, phenolic compounds, glycosides and coumarins. There are a number of studies demonstrating diverse pharmacological properties of E. hirta such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiasthmatic, antidiabetic, anxiolytic, sedative, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective and immunostimulant properties. Experimental studies in fish have shown that extracts of E. hirta are able to increase specific and nonspecific immune responses, antioxidant levels and promote growth performance following infection. The solvent used in the process of plant material extraction can affect its biological activity. This paper provides the review of main phytoconstituents, uses, pharmacological actions and possible medical applications of Euphorbia hirta. The attention is paid mainly to the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, immunostimulant and other properties of the plant. The data presented in the review indicate that E. hirta is a prospective source of pharmacologically active components; nevertheless, it is necessary to carry out additional studies such as toxicity, standardization and clinical trials to prove safety and effectiveness of the plant. Key terms: Euphorbia hirta, plant constituents, biological activity, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant. [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]