EUPHORBIA NERIIFOLIA LINN. (SNUHI): AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF BOTANICAL IDENTITY, ETHNOMEDICINE, PHARMACOGNOSY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL AND SAFETY

Abstract

Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), traditionally known as Snuhi or Sehund, is a succulent, latex-bearing medicinal plant widely associated with dry and rocky habitats of the Indian subcontinent. Its long-standing use in Ayurveda, Unani and regional ethnomedicine has stimulated extensive pharmacognostic, phytochemical and pharmacological investigation. This review consolidates botanical identity, distribution, classical categorization, vernacular nomenclature, cultivation and seasonal collection, macroscopic and microscopic characters, ethnobotanical applications, Ayurvedic properties and formulations, physicochemical standards, medicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological evidence, petro-crop potential, quality-control requirements, toxicological concerns and future research priorities. The plant contains chemically diverse constituents, particularly triterpenes, diterpenes, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, phenolic compounds and latex proteins. Compounds and fractions reported from different organs include euphol, taraxerol, β-amyrin, cycloartenol, neriifolione, eupnerias, eurifoloids, phorneroids and several ingenane- and abietane-type diterpenoids. Experimental studies describe antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti arthritic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, wound-healing, radioprotective, analgesic, hepatoprotective and anticancer-related effects. However, evidence remains heterogeneous and is dominated by in vitro and animal studies; traditional use should therefore not be equated with established clinical efficacy. The latex is biologically active and potentially irritant or toxic, making correct identification, dose control, processing, safety evaluation and standardized quality testing essential. Future work should integrate authenticated plant material, validated chemical fingerprints, mechanism-based assays, pharmacokinetic studies and well-designed clinical investigations to define reproducible therapeutic applications.