Common Names: Balsam Spurge, Sweet Tabernaemontana, Sweet Spurge
Local Names: Aguwa, Kaguwa, Uwar yara, Ayara (Hausa, Nigeria), Tabaiba Dulce (Spanish, Canary Islands), Darmus (Berber, Morocco), Chajrat al-Kharroub (Arabic, Morocco),Touffahi (Hassaniya Arabic, Mauritania)
Species ID: NMP-062 | wfo-0000960903 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 154988

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Rosids

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Tribe: Euphorbieae

Subtribe: Euphorbiinae

Genus: Euphorbia

Species: E. balsamifera

Binomial Name: Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton

Synonyms: Tithymalus balsamifer (L.) Haw., Euphorbia balsamifera var. adenensis Deflers

Euphorbia balsamifera is a succulent shrub or small tree, typically 1–5 m tall, with a candelabra-like growth form. Key features include:

·       Stems: Fleshy, cylindrical, 2–5 cm thick, gray-green, branching dichotomously

·       Leaves: Obovate, 1–3 cm long, clustered at stem tips, shed in dry seasons

·       Flowers: Yellowish-green cyathia, 3–5 mm, in terminal clusters

·       Latex: Milky, copious, exuded when cut

The plant’s drought-adapted succulence allows survival in arid climates (Bramwell & Bramwell, 2001).

Euphorbia balsamifera thrives in:

·       Native Range: Canary Islands, northwest Africa (Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal)

·       Introduced Range: Saudi Arabia, Yemen

·       Habitat: Arid rocky slopes, sandy plains, coastal dunes; 0–1,200 m altitude

·       Soil/Climate: Well-drained, sandy-loam soils; arid, 100–400 mm rainfall

It’s a dominant species in Canary dry woodlands (PROTA, 2019).

Euphorbia balsamifera, commonly known as balsam spurge, has been traditionally utilized in various cultures for its medicinal properties. The plant's fragrant resin is believed to possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects, making it useful in treating skin infections, respiratory issues, digestive disorders, and rheumatism. Additionally, the latex of E. balsamifera has been employed in dental care as an analgesic treatment for acute dental pulpitis, effectively serving as a pulpal devitalizer. In the Canary Islands, the latex has been used as a chewing gum to strengthen gums and as a poultice for skin conditions like cysts and warts. However, caution is advised due to the plant's toxic sap, which can cause irritation if not handled properly.

The plant’s latex and other parts are used traditionally, with studies supporting some claims:

·       Vulnerary: Berber use in Morocco for wounds; Wound healing activity was observed for methanol extract of the plant which is identical with the standard drug Povidone-iodine in rats (Ahmed et al., 2016).

·       Purgative: Canary folk remedy; small doses laxative in humans (Yam et al., 1997).

·       Skin Conditions: Saharan treatment for warts; antibacterial against S. aureus (MIC 50 µg/mL) (Aljubiri et al., 2021).

·       Dental Pain: Senegalese use as pulpal devitalizer; effective in trials (Yam et al., 1997).

·       Antimicrobial: Moroccan use for infections; active against E. coli (MIC 62.5 µg/mL) (Kamba & Hassan, 2010).

Bioactivity is linked to:

·       Triterpenes: Lupeol acetate, cycloartenol; antibacterial, cytotoxic (Aljubiri et al., 2021).

·       Flavonoids: Kaempferol derivatives; antioxidant (Aljubiri et al., 2021).

·       Diterpenes: Present in latex; irritant, antimicrobial (Ernst et al., 2015).

⚠  Toxicity Profile: Latex causes skin/eye irritation; ingestion leads to vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac distress (LD₅₀ 1,250 mg/kg in rats) (Mwine & Van Damme, 2011).

·       Cultural Use: Canary symbol of resilience; livestock fodder in scarcity (Bramwell & Bramwell, 2001).

·       Environmental Impact: Invasive in Saudi Arabia, displacing natives (Aljubiri et al., 2023).

·       Industrial Use: Latex explored for silver nanoparticle synthesis (Aljubiri et al., 2023).

• Ahmed, S., Yousaf, M., Mothana, R. A., & Al-Rehaily, A. J. (2016). Studies on wound healing activity of some Euphorbia species on experimental rats. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 13(5), 145-152.

• Aljubiri, S. M., El-Shwiniy, W. H., Younes, A. A. O., Alosaimi, E. H., & El-Wahaab, B. A. (2023). Use of Euphorbia balsamifera extract in precursor fabrication of silver nanoparticles for efficient removal of bromocresol green and bromophenol blue toxic dyes. Molecules, 28(9), 3934. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093934

• Aljubiri, S. M., Mahgoub, S. A., Almansour, A. I., Shaaban, M., & Shaker, K. H. (2021). Isolation of diverse bioactive compounds from Euphorbia balsamifera: Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity studies. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(1), 417–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.10.025

• Bramwell, D., & Bramwell, Z. (2001). Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Editorial Rueda.

• 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

• Kamba, A. S., & Hassan, L. G. (2010). Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia balsamifera leaves, stems and root against some pathogenic microorganisms. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 4(9), 645–652.

• 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 balsamifera. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Retrieved from https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Euphorbia_balsamifera_(PROTA)

• Yam, A. A., Gaye, F., Dieme, F. A., Bassene, E., & Ba, I. (1997). Application of phytotherapy in odontology: the case of euphorbia balsamifera. Endodontic clinical trial. Dakar medical, 42(2), 169-171.

• Wikipedia - Euphorbia balsamifera

• Green Institute - Euphorbia balsamifera

• Tropical Plants Database - Euphorbia balsamifera

• JSTOR Plants - Euphorbia balsamifera

• 6H-Indolo[3,2,1-de][1,5]naphthyridin-6-one

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIAL STUDIES OF Euphorbia balsamifera LEAVES (Aguwa)