Jayapala
Croton tiglium L.
Jayapala (Croton tiglium) is a plant drug, also called Mukula and Jamalgota in Hindi. It is one of the drastic purgatives of the classical materia medica and the Ayurvedic texts require shodhana, purificatory processing, before any use. This page records documented poisoning cases; read its cautions before anything else on it.
| Botanical name | Croton tiglium L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Euphorbiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3057656 · Wikidata Q2089847 · NCBI Taxonomy 497687 |
| Sanskrit | Mukula, Tintidiphala. |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Jamalgota |
| English | Croton |
| Tamil | Nervalam, Valam |
| Malayalam | Nervalam |
| Telugu | Nepalamu |
| Kannada | Japal beej, Japala, Nepal, Nervala |
| Marathi | Jepal |
| Bengali | Jaipala |
| Gujarati | Jamalagota, Nepalo |
| Urdu | Jamalgota |
| Punjabi | Japolota |
| Assamese | Kanibish |
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 1974 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 3Other clinical studies and reviews
- 9Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit | Jayapala |
| Latin/Botanical | Croton tiglium L. |
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditional purgative use (Virechana, Bhedana) for constipation and abdominal disorders. Traditionally used as a strong purgative (Virechana, Bhedana) for constipation and abdominal disorders. Pharmacological studies have reported that croton oil stimulates intestinal secretion and motility and irritates the gut lining. It was used historically in Western medicine as a drastic cathartic before safer alternatives were developed.
- Traditional anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor use (Shothahara, Granthi). Used in classical practice as Shothahara and for Granthi. The phorbol esters in Croton tiglium are known tumor promoters. In vitro studies have reported anti-tumor activity, including cell death in certain cancer cell lines, for specific fractions and derivatives of the plant. Traditionally applied externally, after purification, as an anti-inflammatory paste for its counter-irritant action.
What do recent studies show?
- Jamadagni P, Ranade A, Bharsakale S and others 2023. Impact of Shodhana an Ayurvedic purification process on cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of Croton tiglium Linn. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 37230917 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100710
Shodhana process significantly reduced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of Croton tiglium seeds. Purified seeds showed reduced DNA damage potential in Ames test and reduced cytotoxicity in cell viability assays while retaining purgative efficacy. - Poowanna R, Pulbutr P, Kijjoa A and others 2025. Purgative Effect, Acute Toxicity, and Quantification of Phorbol-12-Myristate-13-Acetate and Crotonic Acid in Croton tiglium L. Seeds Before and After Treatment by Thai Traditional Detoxification Process. International journal of molecular sciences. PMID 40869036 · doi:10.3390/ijms26167714
Thai traditional detoxification (analogous to Shodhana) reduced phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate content from 5.2 mg/100g to 1.8 mg/100g, with crotonic acid becoming undetectable in purified samples. - Pal PK, Nandi MK, Singh NK 2014. Detoxification of Croton tiglium L. seeds by Ayurvedic process of Śodhana. Ancient science of life. PMID 25538350 · doi:10.4103/0257-7941.144619
Cow’s milk used in Shodhana removes oil-soluble phorbol esters and crotonic acid from seeds. The casein and fat globules in milk act as extraction media for toxic nonpolar constituents, providing scientific rationale for the ancient purification method.
Recent safety updates
- Poisoning case. Croton tiglium poisoning cases documented in Southeast Asia and India from accidental ingestion of seeds. Symptoms include rapid onset (within 30 minutes) of severe purging, vomiting, abdominal pain, and cardiovascular collapse in severe cases.
- Poisoning case. Occupational exposure to croton oil during seed processing causes severe contact dermatitis with vesiculation, erythema, and pustule formation. Skin contact alone can cause systemic symptoms.
- Antidote. No specific antidote. Treatment is supportive: aggressive IV fluid and electrolyte replacement for dehydration from severe purging, antiemetics, GI protectants (demulcents), activated charcoal if within 1 hour of ingestion. Skin decontamination with soap and water for dermal exposure.
- Maximum dose. Purified (Shuddha) Jayapala seeds: only at the dose given under Dosage. Croton oil dose: 1-2 drops (maximum) in milk or capsule. NEVER use unpurified seeds internally. Severe purgation occurs with even small amounts.
- Safety alert. Classified under Upavisha in Ayurveda and Schedule E1 in D&C Rules. Seeds must undergo Shodhana before any internal use. Avoid in pregnancy, children, elderly, and patients with GI disorders. 439 Ayurvedic formulations contain Jayapala - all require proper processing.
What is it made of?
The marker compounds are listed under Dosage forms and preparation, below.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Shodhita Beeja Churna (purified seed powder), Taila (oil - external only)
Standard Dosage: 6 to 12 mg (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. II) Shodhita (purified) seed powder ONLY under strict physician supervision. HIGHLY TOXIC in crude form.
Optimal Timing: Only under direct physician supervision in controlled clinical setting. Traditional use: early morning on empty stomach (Shodhita preparation only).
Storage: Locked storage, clearly labeled as TOXIC/POISONOUS. Restricted access. Full safety documentation required. Not for general commercial storage or distribution.
Marker Compounds: 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA/PMA) - toxic marker, must be monitored, Croton oil (irritant), Crotonic acid, Crotin protein (toxalbumin)
Synergistic Combinations
- Traditionally combined only in specific polyherbal formulations under expert Vaidya guidance
- With Triphala for modulating purgative intensity (traditional, NOT for modern product development)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews3
- 2022. Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological effects of Croton tiglium Linn.: a comprehensive reviewThe Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. PMID 35723937 · doi:10.1093/jpp/rgac040
- 2019. Advanced chemical peels: Phenol-croton oil peelJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology. PMID 30550827 · doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.11.060
- 1974. Phorbolesters--the irritants and cocarcinogens of Croton Tiglium LFortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe = Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products. Progres dans la chimie des substances organiques naturelles. PMID 4609865 · doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-7094-6_7
Laboratory and animal studies9
- 2025. Purgative Effect, Acute Toxicity, and Quantification of Phorbol-12-Myristate-13-Acetate and Crotonic Acid in Croton tiglium L. Seeds Before and After Treatment by Thai Traditional Detoxification ProcessInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 40869036 · doi:10.3390/ijms26167714
- 2024. Diterpenoids with Schistosomula-Killing and Anti-Fibrosis Activities In Vitro from the Leaves of Croton tigliumMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38257314 · doi:10.3390/molecules29020401
- 2023. Impact of Shodhana an Ayurvedic purification process on cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of Croton tiglium LinnJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 37230917 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100710
- 2020. Croton tiglium essential oil compounds have anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in A549 lung cancer cell linesPloS one. PMID 32357169 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231437
- 2020. Neuroprotective and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of a Poisonous Plant Croton Tiglium Linn. ExtractToxins. PMID 32316571 · doi:10.3390/toxins12040261
- 2018. Phorbol RearrangementsJournal of natural products. PMID 30216064 · doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00607
- 2016. Antidermatophytic Activity of Ethanolic Extract from Croton tigliumBioMed research international. PMID 27446946 · doi:10.1155/2016/3237586
- 2015. Mutagenicity and tumor-promoting effects of Tiglium seed extract via PKC and MAPK signaling pathwaysBioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry. PMID 25391291 · doi:10.1080/09168451.2014.980217
- 2014. Detoxification of Croton tiglium L. seeds by Ayurvedic process of ŚodhanaAncient science of life. PMID 25538350 · doi:10.4103/0257-7941.144619
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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