ΠΕΠΛΟΣ
Euphorbia peplus
(Petty spurge)
Botanical info:
Petty spurge is an annual plant growing to 5–30 cm tall, with smooth hairless stems and bright green foliage. It grows mainly in anthropogenic (man-made) or disturbed habitats, meadows, and fields. It is native to the Mediterranean basin expanding north to Scandinavia. Flowering from February through August.
Hippocratic legacy:
a. In Epidemics:
a. Petty spurge is described as expectorant and diuretic.
b. In Superfetation:
a. As a softener for the uterus orifice.
Other uses:
The plant's sap is toxic to rapidly replicating human tissue and has long been used as a traditional remedy for common skin lesions. The active ingredient in the sap is a diterpene ester called ingenol mebutate. A pharmaceutical-grade ingenol mebutate gel has approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of actinic keratosis.