Botanical Name: Euphorbia neriifolia L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms: Significant scientific synonyms include Euphorbia ligularia Roxb. and Euphorbia pentagona Blanco. In Sanskrit, it is classically known as Sudha, Vajri, Snuhi, and Mahasnuh.
Vernacular Names: It is recognized across regions as Sehund or Thur (Hindi), Common Spurge Tree or Milk Bush (English), Mansa-sij (Bengali), Ilaikkalli (Tamil), and Akujemudu (Telugu).
Classification: In terms of habit, Snuhi is a large, succulent, xerophytic shrub or small tree. It is characterized by its fleshy, often 5-angled stems, which distinguish it from other cactus-like Euphorbias.
Habitat: Native to the Indian subcontinent, it is widely distributed throughout the drier, rocky regions of India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. It thrives in arid environments, waste lands, and is frequently planted as a live fence due to its thorny nature and drought resistance.
Morphology: The plant grows to a height of 2–6 meters. The stems are green, cylindrical or slightly angled, with spirally arranged tubercles, each bearing a pair of sharp, blackish stipular spines. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and obovate-oblong, usually appearing at the ends of branches during the monsoon. The flowers (cyathia) are small and yellowish-green, and the fruit is a three-lobed capsule.
Useful Parts: The milky latex (Ksheera) is the most vital part used in medicine. The root, leaves, and stem are also utilized in specific traditional preparations.
Chemical Composition: The latex and plant parts contain a variety of triterpenoids (such as nerifoliol, euphol, and euphorbol) and diterpene esters. It also contains flavonoids, saponins, and the enzyme euphorbain. The latex is highly acrid and contains resinous substances that can cause skin irritation.
Pharmacological Action: Snuhi is primarily valued for its purgative (Rechana) and caustic (Kshara) properties. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial actions. Medically, it is used to treat abdominal enlargements (Udara Roga), chronic skin diseases, localized swellings, and as a potent treatment for hemorrhoids and fistulas.
Formulation: The latex is a crucial ingredient in the preparation of Kshara Sutra (medicated caustic thread) used in the surgical management of fistula-in-ano. It is also used in Snuhi Ghritha and Agnitundi Vati. Due to its toxic nature, internal use is strictly regulated and often involves the “Shodhana” (purification) of the latex with substances like tamarind or salt.
Rasa: Katu.
Guna: Tikshna, Laghu.
Virya: Ushna .
Vipaka: Katu.