What is Euphorbiaceae?

Euphorbiaceae is a plant commonly known as physic nut, with a big shrub around 6 meters tall with spreading branches and stubby twigs. This plant is native to tropical America and also found in Jamaica, India and Brazil. As one of the representative families of the region, it is used in folk medicine as an antiulcer agent. The family of Euphorbiaceae contains many members from milkweeds to poinsettias and no matter where these plants are found, one thing remains constant, the production of latex. 
Euphorbiaceae members have been used in treating gonorrhea, asthma, spleen enlargement, as well as tumors. Extracts of Euphorbia esula L. and Croton tiglium L., two members of the Euphorbiaceae which have been used widely in folk medicine for treating cancers, showed antileukemic activity against the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice.