High-throughput sequencing analysis of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud provides insights into the molecular mechanism of pharmaceutical ingredient biosynthesis.

High-throughput sequencing is an effective approach to analyse the bioinformation on the molecular biological and whole genome levels, especially in non-model plants for which reference genome sequences are unavailable. In this study, high-throughput sequencing analysis of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud was conducted on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. A total of 9,6481,893 raw reads were generated and assembled into 304,217 transcripts and 186,384 unigenes. Of the 186,384 unigenes, 77.45% were annotated in at least one database, and some pathways involved in the biosynthesis of the terpenoid backbone were closely linked to the main anticancer components. In addition, 7452 transcription factors and 76,193 SSRs were detected. This study may provide a candidate pathway for terpenoid backbone biosynthesis in this medicinal plant.