Common detoxification mechanisms in processing of toxic medicinal herbs of the same genus: a case study of Euphorbia pekinensis, E. ebracteolata, and E. fischeriana.
10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250526.301
- Author:
En-Ci JIANG
1
;
Hong-Li YU
2
;
Shu-Rui ZHANG
1
;
Bing-Bing LIU
2
;
Xin-Zhi WANG
1
;
Hao WU
2
Author Information
1. College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023, China.
2. College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023, China Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Processing Nanjing 210023, China Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing Nanjing 210023, China.
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
chemical constituents;
common detoxification mechanisms;
pharmacological effects;
processing techniques;
toxic herbs of Euphorbia;
toxicity-efficacy transformation
- MeSH:
Euphorbia/classification*;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/metabolism*;
Humans;
Animals;
Inactivation, Metabolic;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2025;50(13):3615-3675
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) processing is a specialized pharmaceutical technique with the primary objective of reducing the toxicity of medicinal substances. Euphorbia pekinensis, E. ebracteolata, and E. fischeriana, all belonging to Euphorbiaceae, are classified as drastic purgative herbs, traditionally used for eliminating retained water, reducing swelling, resolving toxicity, and dispersing masses. However, these herbs are also associated with adverse effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Accordingly, they are commonly processed with vinegar, milk, or Terminalia chebula decoction to reduce the toxicity. This review summarizes the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, historical evolution of processing methods, and detoxification mechanisms of the three toxic Euphorbia species. The primary toxic constituents are terpenoids. Specifically, E. ebracteolata and E. fischeriana are rich in diterpenoids, while E. pekinensis contains diterpenoids, triterpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids. Studies have shown that vinegar processing promotes structural transformations of diterpenoids, including ether bond hydrolysis, lactone ring opening, esterification, oxidation, and epoxide ring cleavage, thereby reducing the content and toxicity of these compounds. Milk processing facilitates the dissolution of toxic components into the residual liquid of excipients, leading to decreases in their concentrations in the final decoction pieces. Processing with T. chebula decoction raises the levels of tannin-derived phenolic acids, which antagonize the adverse effects of the intestine. These findings reveal a shared detoxification pattern among the three toxic herbs. Accordingly, this review proposes the concept of a shared detoxification mechanism for toxic herbs belonging to the same family or genus. That is, toxic herbs belonging to the same taxon often exhibit similar toxicological profiles and can undergo detoxification through the same processing methods, reflecting common underlying mechanisms. Investigating such shared mechanisms across multiple species of the same genus offers a promising research strategy. Ultimately, the research into processing-induced detoxification mechanisms provides both theoretical and practical support for ensuring the safety of toxic TCM.
