Garden spurge milk

Plants growing up to 1 m high with red, yellow and green colored, patterned leaves, which can also vary in shape, from the Euphorbiaceae(spurge) family. The plant produces a milky, cloudy sap.

Originally from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Polynesia, Malaysian archipelago), it was introduced to Europe around 180 years ago. Today it is grown in many tropical gardens around the world and is one of the most popular indoor pot plants in many households, not only in Europe but also in the USA. More than 100 varieties are on the market, some of which even have such well-known names as "Tsar Alexander III" or "Baron de Rothschild".

• The milky sap, raw or boiled, is used as a laxative, abortifacient, diaphoretic and cough remedy.
• The milky sap of the garden spurge (Euphorbia peplus) has been used for centuries to treat warts. In a larger study (222 patients), the clinical efficacy of peplin (active ingredient ingenol mebutate) extracted from the sap of the spurge was demonstrated (ingenol mebutate gel 0.025-0.05%) and treatment was carried out over 3 days. The pathogenetic principle of this form of therapy is still unknown.
• Ingenol mebutateis an active ingredient from garden spurge for the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Verrucae vulgares, actinic keratoses. see under ingenol mebutate, approval suspended since January 2020 for preparation ^Picato®

• Toxic parts of the plant: latex, bark, roots. The latex of most Euphorbiaceae is primarily irritating to the skin.
• Responsible for this are the terpenes and phorbol esters, which are widespread in this family and whose irritation potential is particularly pronounced. Moreover, they have a proven cocarcinogenic effect.
• Sensitizing potency: Medium. Frequency of sensitization: Rare.

1. Anderson L et al (2009) Randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, vehicle-controlled study of ingenol mebutate gel 0.025% and 0.05% for actinic keratosis. J Am Acad Dermatol 60:934-43.
2. Cateni F et al (2003) Terpenoids and glycolipids from euphorbiaceae. Mini Rev Med Chem 3: 425-437
3. Hausen BM, Vieluf K (1997) Allergy plants, plant allergens. Ecomed publishing house, Landsberg/Munich