Euphorbia hirta Lauki Bottle Gourd Dugdhika Dudhi Dudhika

Plant Profile

Botany

Binomial nomenclature

Euphorbia hirta

Scientific Name and Description

Euphorbia hirta L.

Herb Family

Euphorbiaceae

Plant type

Herb

Plant Synonyms

Chamaesyce gemella Small
Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp.
Chamaesyce hirta f. glaberrima (Koidz.) Hurus.
Chamaesyce hirta f. litoralis Hurus.
Chamaesyce hirta var. glaberrima (Koidz.) H.Hara
Chamaesyce hirta var. laeticincta Croizat
Chamaesyce karwinskyi Millsp.
Chamaesyce pekinensis var. glaberrima (Koidz.) Makino & Nemoto
Chamaesyce pilulifera var. glaberrima (Koidz.) H.Hara
Chamaesyce rosei Millsp.
Desmonema hirta Raf.
Ditrita hirta (L.) Raf.
Ditritea hirta (L.) Raf.
Euphorbia bancana Miq.
Euphorbia capitata Lam.
Euphorbia chrysochaeta W.Fitzg.
Euphorbia gemella Lag.
Euphorbia globulifera Kunth
Euphorbia hirta var. destituta L.C.Wheeler
Euphorbia hirta var. glaberrima Koidz.
Euphorbia hirta var. typica L.C.Wheeler
Euphorbia karwinskyi Boiss.
Euphorbia nodiflora Steud.
Euphorbia obliterata Jacq.
Euphorbia pilulifera f. humifusa Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera f. humifusa Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera f. rubromaculata Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera f. rubromaculata Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera f. viridis Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera f. viridis Domin
Euphorbia pilulifera var. arechavaletae Herter
Euphorbia pilulifera var. discolor Engelm. in Torr.
Euphorbia pilulifera var. glabrescens Thell.
Euphorbia pilulifera var. guaranitica Chodat & Hassl.
Euphorbia pilulifera var. hirta (L.) Griseb.
Euphorbia pilulifera var. hirta (L.) Thell.
Euphorbia pilulifera var. obliterata Hitchc.
Euphorbia verticillata Vell.

Plant Names - Common - Regional - Vernacular

Common name	asthma-plant, Bottle Gourd is known by many different names – calabash, opo squash, long melon etc. It also grows in many different shapes across the world. Also known as Lauki in Hindi, it is a vegetable used widely in Indian Cuisine. In the regional Indian languages it is known as sorakaya, ghiya, dudhi etc.

Plants Medicinal Value

Medicinal Systems

Ayurved

Unani

Siddha

Folk

Herb usable parts

Leaves

Whole plant

Latex

Ethanomedical Uses

Ethnopharmacology use

Effective in bronchial affections, cough, asthma and in deworming.
Whole plant water extract checks diarrhoea and gonorrhoea.
The alcoholic extract of the whole plant is used in modem allopathic medicine.
The milky juice of the plant is useful in promoting hair growth, in the treatment of warts and cracking of skin. It should be applied externally on the affected area.
Juice of the leaves is applied on bums and skin disorders.
Leaves are crushed and applied as paste in pain on joints of hands and legs.

Source: Medicinal Plants in the Indian Arid Zone, March 2005, Director Central Arid Zone Research Institute Jodhpur 342 003

Euphorbia hirta Euphorbiaceae Latex, leaf Dudhi The leaves of euphorbia are useful in the treatment of skin disorder like ulcers. The paste of the plant can also applied beneficially on wounds and burns, the milky juice of the plants is useful in the treatment of warts. It should be applied externally on the affected area

Euphorbia hirta L. Dudhi Euphorbiaceae Asthma, Infantile diarrhoea

Euphorbia hirta Linn. Dudhi Euphorbiaceae Herb Whole Plant Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoids, Alkaloids, Glycosides

Euphorbia hirta L.

Habit - Herb

Parts used - Whole plant

Application - Asthma; respiratory infections; stomachache; wounds; cough; dysentery; snakebite; jaundice; warts removal; scabies; burns; antiseptic; diarrhoea; pimples; leucorrhea; nerve bleeding; sores; gastric troubles; increases lactation; malaria; skin boils; blisters; cuts

Treatment - General

References - Jain 2004, Samy et al. 2008, Sreeramulu et al. 2013