General

Scientific Names: Euphorbia kansui T. N. Liou ex T. P. wang.

Common Names: Gan Sui, Ku Ze, Gan Ze, Zhong Shou Hua Gen, Hua Gu Dan, Mao Er Yan.

BOTANICAL:

来 源： 为大戟科植物甘遂Euphorbia kansui T. N. Liouex T.P.Wang的块根。

植物特征： 多年生肉质草本，全草含乳汁。根细长，部分呈连珠状。茎直立，淡紫红色。单叶互生，狭披针形或线状披针形，全缘，无柄或具短柄。杯状聚伞花序，通常5～9枝簇生于茎端，基部轮生叶状苞片多枚；苞叶对生；萼状总苞先端4裂，腺体4枚；花单性，无花被；雄花多数和雌花一枚生于同一总苞中；雄蕊、雌蕊各一枚；雌花位于花序中央，子房三角卵形，3室，花柱3，柱头2裂。葫果圆形。花期6～9月。

生药材鉴定： 根椭圆形、长圆柱形或连珠形，长1～5cm，直径0.5～2.5cm。表面类白色或黄白色，凹陷处有棕色外皮残留。质脆，易折断，断面粉性，白色，木部微显放射状纹理；长圆柱状者纤维性较强。气微，味微甘而辣。

Pharmacology

化学成分: 含α-、γ-大戟甾醇（α-，γ-euphorbol）、甘遂甾醇（tirucallol），并含13-氧化巨大戟萜醇（13－oxyingenol）、甘遂萜酯A、B（kansuinineA，B）。

Efficacy

The inhibitory activity of the methyl esters and derivatives extracted from Euphorbia kansui (Euphorbiaceae) and their effect on apoptosis and cell cycle distribution in the human gastric cancer cell line (SGC-7901) were evaluated. The inhibitory activity of the methyl esters and derivatives was evaluated by using trypan-blue, MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2yl) - 2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), and FCM (flow cytometry) assays. 5-fluorouracile (5-FU) was used for a positive control. Six new methyl esters and derivatives were extracted from the root of E. kansui. Subjecting the SGC-7901 cell line to the extract indicated that methyl ester derivatives could initiate growth inhibition and induce apoptosis in these tumor cells. The inhibitory rates as measured from trypan-blue and MTT assays were significantly increased and are comparable to those of the common antitumor agent 5-FU. In addition, the methyl ester extract effectively inhibited the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells by interfering with the progression of the cells through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The current study indicates that methyl esters might be a promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for treating various forms of cancer by causing apoptosis and proliferation inhibition. (source)

The anti-inflammatory activity of euphol, twelve other triterpene alcohols and sitosterol-beta-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the roots of Euphorbia kansui, has been evaluated in mice with inflammation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). TPA (1.7 nmol; 1.0 microg/ear) was dissolved in acetone and 10 microL delivered to the inner and outer surfaces of the right ear of ICR mice. A triterpene alcohol, sterol glucoside or vehicle (20 microL; chloroform-methanol 1:1), was applied topically approximately 30 min before each TPA treatment. The ear thickness was measured before treatment and then oedema was measured 6 h after TPA treatment. For the two-stage carcinogenesis experiment, initiation was accomplished by administration of a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA; 195 nmol; 50 microg/mouse) to the shaved backs of mice. Promotion was with 1.7 nmol (1.0 microg) TPA, applied twice weekly to the same shaved area, begun one week after the initiation. Euphol (2.0 micromol; 853 microg), or its vehicle (acetone-dimethylsulphoxide, 9:1; 100 microL), was applied topically 30 min before each TPA treatment. The number and diameter of skin tumours were measured every other week for 20 weeks. All the compounds were found to possess marked inhibitory activity and their 50% inhibitory dose for TPA-induced inflammation was 0.2-1.0 mg/ear. Topical application of euphol (2.0 micromol; 853 microg/mouse) markedly suppressed the tumour-promoting effect of TPA (1.7 nmol; 1.0 microg/mouse) in mouse skin initiated with DMBA. (source)

IN VITRO:

1. Yu FR, et al., Isolation and characterization of methyl esters and derivatives from Euphorbia kansui (Euphorbiaceae) and their inhibitory effects on the human SGC-7901 cells. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005 Sep 27; 8(3):528-35.
2. Wu TS, et al., Antitumor agents, 119. Kansuiphorins A and B, two novel antileukemic diterpene esters from Euphorbia kansui. J Nat Prod. 1991 May-Jun; 54(3):823-9.
   
   

IN VIVO:

1. Yasukawa K, et al., Inhibitory effect of euphol, a triterpene alcohol from the roots of Euphorbia kansui, on tumour promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2000 Jan; 52(1):119-24.
2. Wu TS, et al., Antitumor agents, 119. Kansuiphorins A and B, two novel antileukemic diterpene esters from Euphorbia kansui. J Nat Prod. 1991 May-Jun; 54(3):823-9.
   

Safety

宜忌: 有毒。 体弱及孕妇禁用；不宜与甘草同用。