Croton flavens
Croton flavens
Safety & Hazards
Several esters of the diterpene phorbol have been isolated from croton resin. Some of these have shown antileukaemic activity but in general, however, these phorbol esters as found in Croton tiglium and many other Croton species are extremely irritant and also tumour promotors. Their presence in Croton tiglium and Croton flavens means their consumption is sometimes held responsible for certain forms of nasopharyngeal cancer as they are able to activate Epstein-Barr viruses[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].
Botanical Description
Croton flavens is an evergreen shrub growing around 1 - 3 metres tall[ 426 Title Flowering Plants of Jamaica Publication Author Adams. C.D. Publisher University of the West Indies; Jamaica. Year 1972 ISBN Description A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc. , 1901 Title Welensali (Croton flavens): Folk Uses and Properties Publication Economic Botany 25(4):457-463 1971 Author Morton J.F. Website http://10.1007/BF02985212 Publisher Year 1971 ISBN Description ]. The plant is commonly used as a stimulating tea and medicinal plant in parts of the Caribbean, where it is also used as an insect repellent and cleansing agent.