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Not CommonRésumée par IA
Euphorbia Tirucalli
Euphorbia tirucalli
traitement du cancer en médecine populaire africaine
How does Euphorbia tirucalli work as an anticancer agent?
Euphorbia tirucalli contains phorbol esters and ingenane diterpenes that demonstrate antiproliferative activity in laboratory studies. These compounds appear to modulate protein kinase C signaling pathways and may induce apoptosis in certain cancer cell lines. The plant's latex also contains triterpenoids with potential antiviral properties. However, evidence remains at Level C, limited to in vitro and animal research. The same compounds responsible for potential therapeutic effects also cause severe toxicity, which significantly limits practical medicinal applications.
Is Euphorbia tirucalli safe to use during pregnancy?
Euphorbia tirucalli is absolutely unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The phorbol esters and diterpenes in the latex can stimulate uterine contractions, potentially causing miscarriage. These toxic compounds may cross the placenta or pass into breast milk, posing serious risks to fetal and infant development. Even minimal skin contact should be avoided by pregnant women. No safe exposure threshold has been established, and the plant's severe toxicity profile contraindicates any use during pregnancy or lactation.
What is the recommended dosage of Euphorbia tirucalli?
No standardized safe dosage exists for Euphorbia tirucalli due to its extreme toxicity. Traditional practitioners in Africa and India have applied minute amounts of diluted latex externally for warts and skin lesions, but even topical use carries significant chemical burn risks. Internal use is potentially fatal and should never be attempted. Any application requires strict medical supervision in a controlled setting. Evidence remains at Level C, based primarily on traditional use reports rather than controlled clinical trials.
Does Euphorbia tirucalli interact with medications?
No formal drug interaction studies exist for Euphorbia tirucalli (Evidence Level D). Theoretically, its phorbol esters could interact with immunosuppressants, chemotherapy agents, and medications affecting cellular signaling pathways. The plant's hepatotoxic potential may alter metabolism of liver-processed drugs. Due to severe systemic toxicity risks from even minimal absorption, internal use should be avoided entirely. Anyone considering any application must consult a qualified healthcare provider, though most practitioners advise against use.
Is Euphorbia tirucalli poisonous to humans?
Yes, Euphorbia tirucalli is highly poisonous. The milky latex contains phorbol esters and diterpenes that cause severe chemical burns upon skin contact, permanent blindness if eye exposure occurs, and potentially fatal systemic toxicity if ingested. Poisoning symptoms include intense gastrointestinal distress, blistering, cardiovascular collapse, and multi-organ failure. Children face heightened vulnerability. The plant has caused numerous accidental poisonings worldwide, particularly when handled as an ornamental without protection. Professional handling with full protective equipment is essential.
Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed
Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.
Compilé à partir de 29 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b
Résumé
Euphorbia tirucalli, also known as pencil cactus, is a succulent plant that produces a milky latex used in folk medicine for various conditions, though it can cause significant irritation upon contact [PMID:34662040, PMID:31642337].
Contexte
Euphorbia tirucalli is an evergreen succulent native to Africa and cultivated worldwide, characterized as a shrub or small tree without leaves that can grow up to 12 meters high [PMID:34662040, PMID:38906925]. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and is noted for its high tolerance to salt and drought stress [PMID:34662040, PMID:38906925].
Usages traditionnels
In folk medicine, it has been used to treat asthma, ulcers, warts, rheumatism, toothache, and various types of cancer [PMID:27209356, PMID:34890731, PMID:42123316]. It has also been used in tropical Africa for poison fishing [PMID:15302524].
Composés actifs
The plant contains a white latex composed of triterpenes (including euphol and friedelin), diterpenes (such as tigliane and ingenane types), steroids (including beta-sitosterol), and flavonoids [PMID:31620282, PMID:34142618, PMID:29342957, PMID:27028817, PMID:36788415]. A specific lectin called Eutirucallin is also isolated from the latex [PMID:28487845].
Mécanisme d'action
Tigliane diterpenoids have shown potent inhibitory activity against P-glycoprotein in HepG2/ADR cells [PMID:34142618, PMID:40913961]. The latex may reactivate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic cycle in a dose-dependent manner, a process that can be blocked by protein kinase C inhibitors [PMID:12771923].
Preuves cliniques
Preuve DMelanoma (Murine B16/F10)
Diluted latex significantly decreased cell viability in vitro and reduced the volume fraction of metastatic colonies in mouse lungs [PMID:31620282]
Preuve DLarynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Hep-2)
Antitumoral fraction of latex influenced morphology, cell proliferation, and gene expression [PMID:27209356]
Preuve DWalker 256 Tumor-bearing Rats
Oral intake of aqueous latex solution promoted a reduction in tumor growth and cachexia and provided immunomodulation [PMID:32114165]
Preuve DBreast Cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231)
Extracts (butanol, hexane, or methanol) were investigated for antiproliferative effects [PMID:27028817]
Preuve DGastric Adenocarcinoma (AGS cells)
Ethanol extract of aerial parts showed cytotoxic activity, potentially due to ellagic acid and triterpenes [PMID:36788415]
Sécurité et effets indésirables
The milky latex is highly irritant and can cause local irritation to the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes [PMID:34662040, PMID:31642337]. In rat models, oral ingestion of latex (13.47 mg/kg) for 15 days was associated with modified heart function, increased myocyte oxidative stress [PMID:42123316], and reduced kidney function (decreased GFR, RPF, and RBF) accompanied by inflammatory responses [PMID:40722960]. Exposure to the latex is also suggested as a potential cofactor in the genesis of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma by triggering DNA damage and chromosomal rearrangements [PMID:29626927, PMID:12771923].
Synthèse des preuves
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating potent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against various cancer lines, but also highlighting significant systemic toxicity and irritation.
Sources PubMed
1.PMID: 34662040 (2026) — Further terpenoids from Euphorbia tirucalli. · Fitoterapia
2.PMID: 31642337 (2020) — Euphorbia tirucalli exposures reported to Texas poison centers. · Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
3.PMID: 34142618 (2022) — A new tigliane-type diterpenoid from Euphorbia tirucalli. · Natural product research
4.PMID: 31620282 (2019) — Inhibitory effects of Euphorbia tirucalli latex on murine B16/F10 melanoma cells and lung metastasis. · Molecular and clinical oncology
5.PMID: 38906925 (2024) — Chromosome-level genome assembly of Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae), a highly stress-tolerant oil plant. · Scientific data
6.
Sources gouvernementales
Aucune monographie gouvernementale directe n'est disponible pour cette plante. Le contenu ci-dessous est généré par IA et n'a pas été vérifié par rapport à une source gouvernementale faisant autorité. Utilisez les liens de recherche pour consulter les sources officielles avant de vous fier à ces informations.
PMID: 27209356 (2016) — Euphorbia tirucalli modulates gene expression in larynx squamous cell carcinoma. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine
7.PMID: 40007184 (2025) — New Approach as Inhibitor Against Head-Neck Cancer by In silico, DFT, FMOs, Docking, Molecular Dynamic, and ADMET of Euphorbia tirucalli (Pencil Cactus). · Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
8.PMID: 20445322 (2010) — Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Euphorbia tirucalli callus. · Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
9.PMID: 40913961 (2025) — Tigliane glycosides from Euphorbia tirucalli as multidrug resistance modulators. · Bioorganic chemistry
10.PMID: 29342957 (2018) — Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Putative Genes Involved in Steroid Biosynthesis in Euphorbia tirucalli. · Genes
11.PMID: 38469022 (2024) — Green Synthesis of Euphorbia tirucalli-Mediated Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Against Wound Pathogens. · Cureus
12.PMID: 32114165 (2020) — Consumption of latex from Euphorbia tirucalli L. promotes a reduction of tumor growth and cachexia, and immunomodulation in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
13.PMID: 42123316 (2026) — Euphorbia tirucalli Latex Ingestion Modifies Heart Function and Increases Myocyte Levels of Oxidative Stress in Normotensive Rats. · International journal of molecular sciences
14.PMID: 29626927 (2018) — Effect of Environmental Factors on Nuclear Organization and Transformation of Human B Lymphocytes. · Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
15.PMID: 26812486 (2016) — Medicinal plants in Brazil: Pharmacological studies, drug discovery, challenges and perspectives. · Pharmacological research
16.PMID: 40925082 (2025) — Exploring barium-bismuth oxide nanocomposites for radiation shielding. · Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
17.PMID: 34445867 (2021) — De Novo Biosynthesis of the Anticancer Compound Euphol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. · ACS synthetic biology
18.PMID: 34890731 (2022) — Biochemical characterization and phytotoxic activity of protein extract from Euphorbia tirucalli L. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
19.PMID: 27028817 (2016) — [Validation of the Antiproliferative Effects of Euphorbia tirucalli Extracts in Breast Cancer Cell Lines]. · Molekuliarnaia biologiia
20.PMID: 12771923 (2003) — Activation of the Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle by the latex of the plant Euphorbia tirucalli. · British journal of cancer
21.PMID: 40722960 (2025) — Short-Term Intake of Euphorbia tirucalli Latex Modifies Kidney Function in Rats: Possible Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
22.PMID: 15302524 (2004) — Plants used for poison fishing in tropical Africa. · Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
23.PMID: 36445864 (2022) — Euphorbia tirucalli latex loaded polymer nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, in vitro release and in vivo antinociceptive action. · PloS one
24.PMID: 30706338 (2019) — Modified ingenol semi-synthetic derivatives from Euphorbia tirucalli induce cytotoxicity on a large panel of human cancer cell lines. · Investigational new drugs
25.PMID: 28363649 (2017) — Immobilization of Euphorbia tirucalli peroxidase onto chitosan-cobalt oxide magnetic nanoparticles and optimization using response surface methodology. · International journal of biological macromolecules
26.PMID: 28487845 (2017) — Eutirucallin: A Lectin with Antitumor and Antimicrobial Properties. · Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
27.PMID: 36788415 (2023) — Chemical profile and cytotoxic evaluation of aerial parts of Euphorbia tirucalli L. on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS cells). · Natural product research
28.PMID: 39046047 (2024) — In vitro antifungal activity of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with Euphorbia tirucalli extract. · Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
29.PMID: 891836 (1977) — New highly irritant euphorbia factors from latex of Euphorbia tirucalli L. · Experientia