title: The Chemical and Biological Properties of Euphorbia kansui.
abstract: Kansui, the root of Euphorbia kansui T.N. Liou ex T.P. Wang, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. This paper reviews advances in investigations of the botany, the phytochemistry, the analytical method, the pharmacology and the toxicology of kansui. Nearly 100 compounds have been isolated from kansui and identified, and diterpenes and triterpenes are considered to be the characteristic and bio-active constituents of kansui. They possess multiple pharmacological activities, including diuretic, purgation, and antitumor effects. However, they also have a degree of toxicity, and can cause skin, oral, and gastrointestinal irritation. In this paper, the toxicity-efficacy relationship, attenuation and incompatibility of kansui are further discussed. Several future investigations of kansui are also proposed, all of which would improve the identification of kansui and other toxic herbs, as well as further their utilization.
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Shulan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: 1 Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese, Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ao
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002400:Cathartics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002400:Cathartics; D004224:Diterpenes; D004232:Diuretics; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes
keywords: Euphorbia kansui; Kansui; Pharmacology; Phytochemistry; Review; Toxicity