Garden spurge milk

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

Codiaeum variegatum; Croton wonder bush; Garden spurge; Garden spurge milk; Ingenol; Ingenolmebutate; Ingenol Mebutate; Peplin

Definition
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Up to 1 m high growing plants with red, yellow and green coloured patterned leaves, which can also vary in shape, from the family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family) The plant has a milky, cloudy sap.

Originally from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Polynesia, Malaysian Archipelago), introduced to Europe about 180 years ago. Today it is planted 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 sale, some of which even bear such well-known names as "Tsar Alexander III" or "Baron de Rothschild".

Occurrence
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Originally from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Polynesia, Malaysian Archipelago), introduced to Europe about 180 years ago. Today, it is planted in many tropical gardens all over 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 sale, some of which even bear such well-known names as "Tsar Alexander III" or "Baron de Rothschild".

Field of application/use
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  • The milk juice, raw or boiled, is used as a laxative, abortive, sudorific and coughing agent.
  • The latex of garden spurge milk (Euphorbia peplus) has been used for centuries for warts. In a larger study (222 patients), a clinical efficacy of peplin (active ingredient: ingenol-mebutate) extracted from the juice of spurge (ingenol-mebutate gel 0.025-0.05%) could be proven. The pathogenetic principle of this form of therapy is still unknown.
  • Ingenolmebutateis an active ingredient from garden spurge milk for the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Limited indication
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Verrucae vulgar, actinic keratoses

Dosage
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Ingenol Mebutate Gel: 0.025 - 0.05%

Undesirable effects
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  • 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.

Literature
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  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

Outgoing links (2)

Actinic keratosis; Ingenolmebutate;

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020