Common Names: Deightons Spurge, Madagascar Euphorbia
Local Names:  Oro Agogo (Yoruba, Nigeria), Tsimanana (Malagasy, Madagascar)
Species ID: NMP-063 | wfo-0000961681 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 3086435

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Rosids

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Euphorbia

Species: E. deightonii

Binomial Name: Euphorbia deightonii Croizat

Synonyms: 

Euphorbia deightonii is a succulent perennial shrub, typically 0.5–2 m tall, with a compact, branching habit. Key features include:

·       Stems: Cylindrical, fleshy, 1–3 cm thick, green to reddish-brown, often ribbed

·       Leaves: Small, ovate, 0.5–2 cm long, ephemeral, shed in dry conditions

·       Flowers: Cyathia, yellowish-green, 2–4 mm, clustered at stem tips

·       Latex: Milky, white, copious when injured

Its succulent nature aids survival in arid environments (Shi et al., 2020).

Euphorbia deightonii thrives in:

·       Native Range: Madagascar, West Africa (Nigeria, Sierra Leone)

·       Habitat: Dry forests, rocky outcrops, savannas; 0–800 m altitude

·       Soil/Climate: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soils; arid to semi-arid, 300–800 mm rainfall

It’s adapted to Madagascar’s dry deciduous forests and West African savannas (PROTA, 2019).

Euphorbia deightonii, a succulent shrub native to West Tropical Africa, has been traditionally utilized for its medicinal properties. The plant's sap has been applied to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as to address snakebites and scorpion stings. Phytochemical investigations have identified compounds like triterpenes and phenolics in E. deightonii, some of which exhibit antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2.

·       Skin Conditions: Nigerian Yoruba use latex for eczema.

·       Snakebites/Scorpion Stings: West African topical application; latex reduces venom effects in rats (50% at 200 mg/kg) (Mwine & Van Damme, 2011).

·       Wound Healing: Malagasy use for cuts; promotes clotting in vitro (Ernst et al., 2015).

·       Purgative: Sierra Leonean use in small doses; laxative effect observed (PROTA, 2019).

Compounds identified include:

·       Diterpenes: Likely present in latex; antimicrobial, irritant (Shi et al., 2020).

·       Triterpenoids: Potential lupeol derivatives; cytotoxic (Mwine & Van Damme, 2011).

·       Sterols: β-Sitosterol; anti-inflammatory (Ernst et al., 2015).

Chemical profiling is sparse compared to other Euphorbia species.

⚠  Toxicity Profile: Latex is irritant to skin/eyes; ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea (LD₅₀ ~1,500 mg/kg in mice) (Mwine & Van Damme, 2011).

·       Ornamental Value: Cultivated for unique succulent form in arid gardens (Shi et al., 2020).

·       Ecological Role: Stabilizes soil in dry regions; grazed by livestock sparingly (PROTA, 2019).

• Ernst, M., Grace, O. M., Saslis-Lagoudakis, C. H., Nilsson, N., Simonsen, H. T., & Rønsted, N. (2015). Global medicinal uses of Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 176, 90–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.025

• Mwine, T. J., & Van Damme, P. (2011). Why do Euphorbiaceae tick as medicinal plants?: a review of Euphorbiaceae family and its medicinal features. Journal of medicinal plants research, 5(5), 652-662.

• PROTA. (2019). Euphorbia deightonii. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Retrieved from https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Euphorbia_deightonii_(PROTA)

• Shi, Q. W., Su, X. H., & Kiyota, H. (2020). Chemical and pharmacological research of the plants in genus Euphorbia. Chemical Reviews, 108(10), 4295–4327.

• Green Institute - Euphorbia deightonii

• Tropicos - Euphorbia deightonii

• iNaturalist - Euphorbia deightonii

• scoparon
• marylaurencinol D
• kansenone
• Ingol
• ent-atisane
• dehydrodiconiferyl diacetate
• 3,4,3′-tri-O-methylellagic acid

1. Saidu, M. B., Kúsz, N., Tsai, Y. C., Vágvölgyi, M., Berkecz, R., Kókai, D., ... & Rédei, D. (2022). Triterpenes and Phenolic Compounds from Euphorbia deightonii with Antiviral Activity against Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2. Plants, 11(6), 764.

2.Saidu, M. B., Kúsz, N., Berkecz, R., Rácz, B., Spengler, G., Hohmann, J., & Rédei, D. (2022). Ingol, ent-atisane, and stachane-type diterpenoids from Euphorbia deightonii with multidrug resistance reversing activity. Phytochemistry, 204, 113344.