Calotropis procera (ushaar) keratitis

Calotropis induced ocular toxicity

“…Specular microscopy revealed low endothelial cell count with pleomorphism and polymegathism in affected eye as compared to normal fellow eye. Al-Mezaine et al 5 reported permanent endothelial cell loss with morphologic alteration in their case. Basak et al 2 reported low endothelial cell count in 17 out of 23 eyes (74%) on specular microscopy at three months in comparison to the normal follow eye.…”

Latex constituents from Calotropis procera (R. Br.) display toxicity upon egg hatching and larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linn.)

“…much over 1 mg.kg -1 body weight, further studies on the safety of using NDF or any of the constituents of C. procera must be carried out considering that available data are still inconclusive. Some workers have considered the toxicity of latex moderate, and have described it as less hazardous as compared to insecticides like aldrin, although contact with eyes and skin should be avoided (Girdhar et al 1984, Al Mezaine et al 2005. Others, however, have made warnings about the contact dermatitis produced by C. procera, about the latex biogenic amines that produce intense inflammation when injected locally in rats (Shivkar & Kumar 2003) and about the fact that the latex given to goats by different routes of administration caused death between 20 min and 4 days (el Badwi et al 1998).…”

A comparative study on the efficacy of rofecoxib in monoarticular arthritis induced by latex of Calotropis procera and Freund’s complete adjuvant

“…R. Br has been reported to produce contact dermatitis, keratitis and toxic iridocyclitis on accidental exposure (Handa et al, 1984;Al-Mezaine et al, 2005;Biedner et al, 1977). Experimentally, it has been demonstrated to induce intense inflammation that is associated with edema formation and cellular infiltration.…”