NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
inside. Stem: erect, irregularly bifurcated, with thickened nodes, glabrous
above and hairy beneath (especially on the nodes). Leaves: alternate, compound,
pinnate-pinnatifid or bipinnatifid, coarsely crenate or dentate margins,
hairless to mostly hairless, upper surface dull green, lower surface pale
green, with conspicuous veins, very thin in texture and drooping immediately
upon gathering, up to 16 cm long and 8 cm wide. Each compound leaf
typically has 5 leaflets, sometimes 3 (apical leaflet is usually larger), which
are pinnatifid with secondary lobes, ovate or obovate in overall shape; secondary
lobes have blunt tips. Lower leaves petiolated, upper leaves sessile.
Rachis and petioles may have a few scattered hairs. Inflorescences, loose
umbels of 3–8 flowers; flowering stalks 5–10 cm long; develop oppositely
from the compound leaves. Flowers, actinomorphous, 4 yellow petals,
2 sepals that fall early, 1.2–1.8 cm in diameter, pistil with a stout style and
elongated ovary, and numerous yellow stamens. Pedicels, 1.2–2.5 cm long.
Fruits, slender siliqua-like capsules, ascending, monolocular, many seeded,
linear-cylindrical, 2–5 cm long, tapering gradually towards the apex, outer
surface is smooth, glaucous and hairless. As the fruit matures, it becomes
constricted at intervals, dehiscing by two valves from the bottom. Seeds,
ovoid, flattened glossy, black-brown with small white appendages. The
whole plant abounds in bright, orange-coloured latex, which is emitted
wherever the leaves or stems are broken. The juice stains hands strongly, has
a persistent and nauseous taste, a strongly disagreeable smell, and burns the
skin and eyes. The whole plant is poisonous (1, 7, 11, 24, 29–36).
Plant material of interest: dried aerial parts
General appearance
Whole or cut leafed stems with flowers, and unripe and/or ripe fruits,
pieces of stems, leaves, flowers and fruits. Stems are rounded, ribbed,
thin-walled, sometimes branched, whole at internodes, somewhat pubescent,
yellowish to greenish-brown or olive green, up to 50 cm long and
about 3–7 mm in diameter. Leaf fragments, mainly glabrous, bluish-green
and glabrous on one side, and pale green and pubescent on the veins on
the other side. Yellow flowers with 2 readily removed membranous sepals,
4 obovate petals, one pistil, and numerous stamens. Fruit, linearcylindrical,
siliqua-like capsules. Seeds, small, numerous, ovate, rough,
brown-black (1, 2, 5).
Organoleptic properties
Odour: peculiar and irritating, the latex has a narcotic fragrance; taste:
very bitter and somewhat pungent (5, 7, 24, 29).
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