Abstract
The family Euphorbiaceae is comprised of 300 genera and some 7500 species widely distributed over the world, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa and Asia. Croton is one of the most important genera of this family that comprises about 1300 species widespread in Africa, Asia and South America. This genus is rich in constituents with biological activities, chiefly diterpenoids such as phorbol esters, clerodane, labdane, kaurane, trachylobane, pimarane, etc. Croton is also rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids and steroids. Several species are aromatic, indicating the presence of volatile oils. Croton zehntneri Pax & K. Hoffm. is native to Northeastern Brazil, where it is often used in folk medicine to treat anxiety, as sedative, appetite stimulating, antianorexigen and for the relief of gastrointestinal disturbances. In view of its popular uses in treating various diseases, this chapter reviews scientific studies on the chemical and biological properties of this species.
Croton zehntneri Pax & K. Hoffm
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da Silva Almeida, J.R.G., Ramalho, A.C.M., da Silveira, F.G. (2018). Croton zehntneri Pax & K. Hoffm (Euphorbiaceae). In: Albuquerque, U., Patil, U., Máthé, Á. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of South America. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1552-0_15
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