Jatropha multifida 珊瑚花

Euphorbiaceae 大戟科

Multifid-leaved Jatropha1

細裂珊瑚油桐、中裂麻瘋樹2

POISONOUS PARTS

Sap, fruits and seeds.3

TOXICITY

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment. Correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbances. Activated charcoal therapy has been used for gastrointestinal decontamination in J. multifida poisoning.3,6

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Shrubs or treelets, 2–6 m tall; branches stout. Leaves basifixed, petioles 10–25 cm long; leaf blades nearly orbicular in outline, 10–30 cm in diameter, palmately and deeply divided into 7–11 lobes; lobes 10–15 cm long, often with 1–3 small lobelets on each side. Cymes compound, terminal; peduncles 13–22 cm long. Petals 5, red, about 4–7 mm long. Capsules about 3 cm long.7

MEDICINAL USES

In Asia and West Africa, the plant has been used in folk medicine to treat wound, skin infection, parasitic infestations and rheumatic conditions.3,8

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Phorbol esters can be detected by LC-MS/MS.9