A Review on Calotropis Procera Its Phytochemistry and Traditional Uses

Abstract

Medicinal flora have proven their significance as a source of biologically active ingredients used in folk medicine. These active molecules have therapeutic potential and a vital pool for identifying novel medicine. Medicinal plants are widely used in developing societies like in India, Pakistan, and Southern America because they are thought to be cheaper than modern medicines, most effective and readily available. They have been used for thousands of years to treat and prevent health disorders along with epidemics. Also, they utilized for flavour and for conserving food items. They play a golden role in the development of human culture. Plants produced the diversity of secondary metabolites that are responsible for the biological functions of plants used around the world. Calotropis procera is drought-resistant medicinal perennial shrub mostly found in arid to semi-arid areas. It is a major source of secondary metabolites including phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, sugars, alkaloids, tannins cardenolides, glycoside, saponins and steroids. It has medicinal properties as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antimalarial. It is vigorous used for the ailment of common diseases, i.e. fever, leprosy, eczema, diarrhea, dysentery and jaundice. This short-review about the phytochemistry of Calotropis procera and its traditional uses.

An Overview of the Characteristics and Potential of Calotropis procera From Botanical, Ecological, and Economic Perspectives

“…Young stems are grayish-green in color, smooth, and pubescent, whereas the mature stems have a deeply fissured bark (Hassan et al, 2015). The leaves are large, pale green, succulent, arranged in opposite phyllotaxy, and covered with cuticular wax (Batool et al, 2020; Figure 2). The plant contains a milky sap, which oozes out of any wound or injury in the aboveground parts (CABI, 2021; Figure 2).…”

“…Reproductive maturity in the plant is attained approximately 190 days after germination (Bebawi et al, 2015). Flowering takes place throughout the year, and pollination is carried out by insects, mostly bees and butterflies (Al Sulaibi et al, 2020;Batool et al, 2020). The inflorescence is dense and multiflowered umbellate cyme (3-15 flowers in a cluster; Figure 2), and the flowers are five-petaled, bisexual, sweetsmelling, and white in appearance with a characteristic purple tip (Al Sulaibi et al, 2020; Figure 2).…”

“…Calotropis procera is used as an alternative for fodder during dry periods when other plant species are scarce (Frosi et al, 2013). Its use for fuel, timber, and building purposes dates back to the nineteenth century (Al Sulaibi et al, 2020;Batool et al, 2020). The plant has also been acknowledged for its ornamental value (de Oliveira et al, 2009).…”

“…It has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems in North Africa, Middle East Asia, South Asia, and South-East Asia (Al Sulaibi et al, 2020). It has also been utilized for fiber, fuel, fodder, and timber purposes since antiquity (Batool et al, 2020). Owing to its socio-economic importance, it has been introduced in several parts of the world outside its native range (Asia and Africa).…”

Antimicrobial, Antigenotoxicity, and Characterization of Calotropis procera and Its Rhizosphere-Inhabiting Actinobacteria: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

“…In North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, it has long been utilized in traditional medicinal applications. Since antiquity, it has been used for fuel, fiber, feed, and lumber [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].…”