Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., Vol.32, No.3, May 2019, pp.1111-1119 1111 REPORT Pharmacognostic and physicochemical screening of Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham. Muhammad Younus *1 , Muhammad Mohtasheemul Hasan 1 , Muhammad Sajid ur Rehman 2 , Khizer Abbas 3 and Ghulam Sarwar 4 1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan 2 Department of Pharmacy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan 3 Department of Pharmacy, Baha ud Din Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan 4 Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan Abstract: Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham. (Euphorbiaceae) is commonly known as Indian Spurge Tree in English, and “Saj Thor” or “Jhanami booti” in local language. The plant is used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases like inflammation, fever, worm infection, asthma, cough, wounds and diabetes. In current study fresh as well as dried aerial parts of the plant and cut sections were examined, both macroscopically and microscopically. The study also deals with fluorescence analysis and phytochemical characteristics and other WHO recommended methods for standardization. WHO guidelines on quality control for medicinal plants materials were used for pharmacognostical evaluation of E. nivulia, phytochemical screening helps in determining the predominant classes of active constituents responsible for the activity. The present work will be helpful in identification of the fresh and dried samples of aerial parts pharmacognostically and anatomically. These studies will serve as a reference for correct identification and may be helpful in checking any type of adulteration. These observations will also help in differentiating this species from closely related species of the same genus and family. Keywords: Euphorbia nivulia, pharmacognostic, macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical. INTRODUCTION Euphorbia is a large genus comprised of more than 2000 species throughout the world, out of these about 195 species are found in India (Aditya, 2010). The genus consists of herbs, shrubs and trees which occur in diverse habitats (Basak et al., 2009). Euphorbia nivulia Buch.- Ham. is of interest to natural products researchers due to its diverse biological activities. There is limited literature on the biological activities of Euphorbia nivulia (Badgujar & Mahajan, 2011). Northern and central India is habitat of the plant where it is planted as hedge plant often in dry areas and wild in arid soils. Species of this family are widely distributed in tropical Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. The plant is indigenous to India, Myanmar and Pakistan (Radcliffe-Smith 2011). Other imported reported species of genus Euphorbia are: Euphorbia indica Lamk; Euphorbia milii Desmoul, Euphorbia neriifolia auct. Non Linn., Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. and Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. Chemically, it contains tetracyclic triterpenes and three ingol diterpenes (Ravikanth et al., 2003). Lectin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein (Inamdar et al., 1988), and Nivulia-II and Nivulian-III, two other glycoproteins were isolated from the latex (Badgujar and Mahajan, 2010). The latex also contains alkaloids, cynogenic glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins and terpenes (Mahajan and Badgujr, 2008). It contains citric, tartaric and mallic acids, euphol, nerifloiol, fat, albuminoids, hydrolytic enzymes, etc. Juices of leaves, bark, root, stem or latex is used traditionally for medicinal purpose. Leaf juice is used as a purgative and diuretic while leaf paste neem oil is applied in rheumatism. Plant latex possesses purgative properties and is used against worms (Pullaiah, 2006) also used in diseases like jaundice and enlargement of liver. Boro community of Assam uses leaf juice in pains and boils (Basumatary et al., 2004). Latex is reported for bronchodilation (Savithrama et al., 2007) and fleshy stem is recommended in cough (Mahajan and Badgujr, 2008). Latex of leaf and root is used in skin and ear disorders, worm infection, swelling and retention of urine (Britto et al., 2010). Stem is applied to bone fractures and latex possesses antiseptic properties (Kumar and Chaturvedi, 2010). MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material Aerial parts (leaves, branches, stem and flowers) of fresh, well grown Euphorbia nivulia plant (10kg) were collected during the months of March and April 2015 from Hasil Pur Road and adjoining areas of Bahawalpur region, Pakistan and authenticated by taxonomist, Department of *Corresponding author: e-mail: my0966@hotmail.com