Chiang Mai Journal of Science

 Ethnopharmacological relevance: Euphorbiae Semen is the dried and mature seed of Euphorbia lathyris L. It is warm in nature, pungent in flavor, and slightly poisonous. It is commonly used for the treatment of hydropsy, ascites, constipation, and scabies. Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum is the processed product of Euphorbiae Semen, which is obtained by removing the oil from Euphorbiae Semen. By this way, its purgative effect can be alleviated commonly. However, the mechanism of reducing intestinal toxicity has not been clearly investigated. Objective: By studying the effects of the extracts of Euphorbiae Semen and Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum on the intestinal flora of normal rats, it provides a reference for further elucidating the mechanism of attenuating the toxicity of Euphorbiae Semen. And this can provide theoretical guidance and basis for its clinical application. Materials and methods: The rats were intragastrically administered with Euphorbiae Semen and Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum extracts. On day 9, the rat feces were collected and q-PCR was used to detect the number of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, which are four kinds of representative intestinal flora to illustrate the mechanism of attenuating the potential toxicity in Euphorbia lathyris L. processing. Results: Euphorbiae Semen and Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum can lead to intestinal dysbacteriosis in rats; compared with Euphorbiae Semen, Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum caused a lower degree of dysbacteriosis, which is consistent with the result that the diarrhoea effect of Euphorbiae Semen Pulveratum was moderated. Conclusion: It indicates that the intervention effects of Euphorbiae Semen before and after being processed on the intestinal flora can be investigated from the perspective of intestinal microecology, and the possible correlation can be elucidated between the process of making frostlike powder and the changes in the number of intestinal flora.