What is the active component of Euphorbia latex that gives its toxicity and a potent molluscicide???

Question

What is the active component of Euphorbia latex that gives its toxicity and a potent molluscicide???

Answer 1

The active component of Euphorbia latex that gives its toxicity is euphorbon.

The sap is a very complex composition of glycosides, resins, gums and bitter principles. It varies with the different species.

It is a severe irritant especially for mucous membranes and that should primarily be the reason for its  molluscicidity. i

Its activity is compared with niclosamide.

molluscicide:

http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/reprint/58/1/7....

The active irritant principle seems to be the complete latex.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap...

Euphorbon etc:

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic...

http://www.theamateursdigest.com/epoison...