initial characterization of crude extracts from phyllanthus amarus

Origin and Distribution
Plants in the genus Phyllanthus can be found around all tropical regions of the
world: from Africa to Asia, South America and the West Indies. Phyllanthus contains
about 550 to 750 species in 10-11 subgenera (Unander, 1995).
P. amarus can be found in all the tropical regions of the world: through the roads,
valleys, on the riverbanks and near lakes. This plant is a common arable weed of
disturbed ground in southern Florida, the Bahamas, the West Indies and tropical America
and is naturalized in the Old World tropics. Phyllanthus amarus is usually misidentified
with the closely related Phyllanthus niruri L. in appearance, phytochemical structure and
history of use. Phyllanthus niruri reaches a length of 60 cm, the fruits are larger, and the
seeds are dark brown and warty (Morton, 1981).
Use
Many Euphorbiaceae species are of economical importance. For example, the
cooked root of Manihot esculenta (cassava) is used as a major carbohydrate source in the
tropics, and many forms of bread and puddings are made of the starch. From the oily
seeds of Ricinus communis (krapata), miracle oil is produced. Many species are more or
less poisonous (Morton, 1981; Wessels Boer, 1976). According to Lewis (1977) the
milky sap of many cultivated species, such as E. pulcherrima (pointsettia) and E.
tirucallii (pencil tree) contains toxic compounds that will cause severe poisoning if
ingested in large quantities.
E. pulcherrima is commercially grown as an ornamental in the Americas. E.
tirucallii is widely grown in the warm climates of both hemispheres as an ornamental
plant and massive barrier hedge. The latex of this plant is a source of hydrocarbons and
convertible to fuel. Alchornea latifolia is planted as shade for coffee in Mexico. The
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