Abstract:The research review on chemical compositions of Euphorbiae Semen was reviewed to provide a reference for its further research and development. Related literature in CNKI Database, VIP Database and Pubmed Database from 1960 to 2015 were searched, and the research conditions of Euphorbiae Semen were summarized according to its chemical compositions, pharmacological effects, toxicity, development and utilization. In terms of chemical compositions, Euphorbiae Semen mainly had diterpenoids, sterols, coumarins, flavonoids, volatile oil, fatty oil and other chemical components. It was reported that the main pharmacological activities of Euphorbiae Semen were anti-tumor, anti-pulmonary fibrosis and promoting intestinal peristalsis. The toxicity of Euphorbiae Semen was strong, and lathyrol and other fat-soluble components may be its toxic components, because its toxicity was significantly reduced by removing oil from Euphorbiae Semen. In the aspect of development and utilization of Euphorbiae Semen, its compound preparations were used to treat leukemia, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and other diseases in China, and its chemical composition named euphorbia factor L5 had a significant anti-cancer effect. In foreign countries, the ingenol-20-palmitate, sucrose 2',3,4,6,6'-pentaisovalerate and euphobia factor L1, which were extracted from Euphorbiae Semen, have been applied for patent of skin whitening. The research results showed that Euphorbiae Semen was a promising medicine, with abundant chemical components and significant pharmacological effects. However, because of its toxicity and unclear mechanism of toxicity, the development and utilization of Euphorbiae Semen has been limited seriously. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the study on its toxic components, action site of toxic components and toxic mechanism.