 |
|
|
|
| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Calotropis procera
(Ait.) Ait. F. (Asclepiadaceae)
|
Swallow-Wort,
Sodom Apple,
Dead Sea Apple
|
Arka, Alarka |
Ak, Akada |
|
| |
|
|
| History |
|
 The
leaves were used in Vedic times in sun worship. The plants were
considered sacred. Maruts worshipped on Saturdays with garland of
its flowers. Ancient Arab tribes also had notions rooted in superstition
about Calotropies probably in relation to sun worship.
Hindu physicians used the secretions from the root bark to treat
skin diseases, enlargements of abdominal viscera, intestinal worms,
cough, ascites, anasarca etc. The milky juice was regarded as a
drastic purgative and caustic. Flowers were considered to improve
digestion, catarrh and increase appetite. The leaf ash was given
with whey to treat ascites and enlargements of abdominal viscera.
The root bark with latex was smoked for cough. The root bark was
also used to treat elephantiasis in South India. Its milky juice
was applied for toothache.
In Cancon the flowering tops were used to treat asthma. The plant
was also used in the treatment of leprosy, hepatic and splenic enlargements.
Oil in which the leaves were boiled, was used in treating paralysis.
Leaf powder was used in wound healing. It was considered as a substitute
for Ipecacuanha and also possess the properties of Gutta-persica.
The juice was used for the purpose of infanticide and was sometimes
taken by women to induce abortion. Tanners
used the milky juice to remove hair from hides.
|
|
|
| Habitat |
It is found in most
parts of the world in dry, sandy and alkaline soils and warm climate.
In India it is found from Punjab and Rajasthan to Assam and Kanyakumari.
Up to an altitude of 1050 m. It grows abundantly in Rajasthan. It
is found in its waste lands and grows as a weed in agricultural lands.
It grows well on rubbish heaps, waste and fallow lands, roadsides
and sand dunes.
|
 |
|
|
| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
Erect, tall, large,
much branched and perennial shrubs or small trees that grow to a height
of 5.4 m., with milky latex throughout. Bark is soft and corky. Branches
stout, terete with fine appressed cottony pubescence (especially on
young). Leaves sub-sessile, opposite, decusate, broadly ovate-oblong,
elliptic or obovate, acute, thick, glaucous, green, covered with fine
cottony pubescent hair on young but glabrous later and base cordate.
Flowers in umbellate-cymes and tomentose on young. Calyx glabrous,
ovate and acute. Corolla glabrous, lobes errect, ovate, acute, coronal
scales 5-6, latterly compressed and equally of exceeding the staminal
column. Folicles are sub-globose or ellipsoid or ovoid. Seeds broadly
ovate, acute, flattened, minutely tomentose, brown coloured and silky
coma is 3.2 cm long.
|
|
|
|
| Principal
Constituents |
|
In leaves mudarine is isolated as principal active constituent.
Besides a yellow bitter acid, resin and 3 toxic glycosides calotropin,
uscharin and calotoxin1. In latex a powerful bacteriolytic
enzyme2, a very toxic glycoside calactin (which concentration
is increased on insect or grass hopper attack as defense mechanism),
calotropin D I, calotrapin D II, calotropin F I, calotropin F II
and a non toxic protealytic enzyme calotopin (2-3%) had been identified
This calotopin is more proteolytic than papain, and bromelain and
coagulates milk, digests meat, gelatin and casein. whole plant contains
a- and b-amyrin, b-amyrin, teraxasterol, gigantin, giganteol, isogiganteol,
b-sitosterol and a wax.
  
|
|
|
| Pharmacology |
The crude extract
of C.procera and its protein fraction were found to possess high fibrinolytic
and anticoagulant activity in rabbit and human plasma3.The
alcoholic extract of leaves and roots were found to have anticancer
activity against human epidermal carcinoma of the nasopharynx in tissue
culture4. The aqueous and alcoholic extract has slight
depression followed by stimulation of the rate and force of myocaedial
contraction of isolated frog's heart. It also induce increase in blood
pressure in dog, marked contractions in rabbit duodenum, rat's ileum
and uterine horn of virgin rat. Aqueous extract has mild diuretic
effect on rat5. Latex has anti-inflammatory properties.
Petroleum ether extract of flowers showed abortifacient activity.
|
|
|
|
|
| Toxicology |
In higher doses root
bark causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Prolonged higher doses
cause head ache, burning micturition and leucorrhoea. The latex contains
some poisonous constituents due to which it has a caustic effect on
mucous membrane and tender skin. It increases heartbeat and respiration
in animals leading to distress and death. Accidental splashing of
latex in to the eye causes congestion of the eye with tear and local
anaesthesia, followed by deeper effect due to absorption. Caloropin
is one of the most violent poisons substances known. It is 15-20 times
more toxic than strychnine6.
|
|
| Indications |
The medicinal properties are similar
to C.gigantea. It has bitter, healing, laxative and anthemintic
properties that relieves strangury, cures ulcers, acts as an expectorant.
Its leaves are used to relieve stomach pain. Its flower is a tonic,
appetiser, stomachic, that cures piles, asthma and wounds. Its milky
juice is a blistering agent. Its flowers are useful in cholera.
|
|
| Product
Range |
Muscle & Joint
Rub.
|
|
|
|
| References |
|
|
- Chaudhri, Bull Bot Sur India, 3,171, 1961.
- Shukla, J Sci Indst Res, 20C, 109, 1961.
- Srivastava, Indian J Med Sci, 16, 873, 1962.
- Dhar, Indian J Exptl Biol, 6, 232, 1968; Bhakuni, Indian J
Exptl Biol, 7, 250, 1969.
- Devasari, Indian J Pharm, 27, 272, 1965.
- Perry, Medicinal Plants of East and South East Asia.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
