ABSTRACT
More than 90 species of the Daphne genus are found in Asia, Europe, and parts of North Africa. As per Chinese traditional medicine, D. odora roots are used to treat stomachache, bruises, and bites of venomous snakes, whereas the leaves are employed in the treatment of abscess and neuralgia. D. acutiloba root and the stem bark are used to treat bruises and scrofula. Daphne plants contain biflavonoids (daphnetin, acetilumbelliferone, daphnin, umbelliferone, daphnoretin, triumbellin, daphnodorin A, daphnodorin B, daphnodorin C, daphnodorin I, genkwanol A), sesquiterpenes (daphauranol A, daphauranol B, and daphauranol C), daphnane-type diterpene esters (acutilobin 1, acutilobin 2, acutilobins 3, 4 and 5, acutilobins 6 and 7, wikstroemia factor and genkwanin 8). Daphne plants demonstrate antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-ulcerogenic, abortive, hypocholesterolemic, and hemostatic properties. This chapter describes about traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and culture conditions of Daphne plants.
