DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 241-246

Medicinal herbs have curative properties due to presence of various complex chemical substance of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants. These plant metabolites according to their composition are grouped as alkaloids, glycosides, corticosteroids, essential oils etc. Euphorbia hirta, (family-Euphorbiaceae) is an herb found in many parts of the world. Euphorbia hirta is known as dudhi in hindi possesses a number of medicinal properties. In Sanskrit it means “Dugadhika” According to the Doctrine of Signatures, the plant has a reputation for increasing milk flow in women, because of its milky latex, and is used for other female complaints as well as diseases of the respiratory tract. The plant has been reported as increase in urine output, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory etc. Euphorbia hirta is locally used in Africa and Australia to treat numerous diseases, including hypertension and edema. In this part of discussion the medicinal uses and the research and development regarding Euphorbia hirta are focused.