Non-Diterpenoid Constituents of Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae

Several triterpenoids have been reported as constituents of the Euphorbiaceae. Relatively scanty information is available about the distribution of triterpenoids in the family Thymelaeaceae. β-Sitosterol has been identified in the sterol fractions of the different studied Euphorbiaceae species. However, the presence of other sterols; e.g., campesterol, stigmasterol, euphorbosterol and others have also been reported. Species of the Euphorbiaceae, and in particular Euphorbia species, have been reported as plants bearing flavonoids. According to Ettlinger and Kjaer, the glucosinolates and myrosinase may be confined in the Euphorbiaceae to a small minority of the genera. Although qualitative detection of coumarins in several plants of the family Euphorbiaceae has been reported, yet only few have been isolated. Cyanogensis in the Euphorbiaceae has been recently reviewed by Valen. Both subfamilies, i.e., the Hyllanthoideae and Euphorbioideae sensustricta comprise taxa which are able to produce hydrocyanic acid.