What is Calotropis gigantea used for?
Calotropis gigantea is defined as a perennial undershrub found mainly in wastelands across India and parts of Africa, known for its traditional medicinal uses, particularly in treating skin diseases and promoting wound healing. Juice obtained from 4–5 leaves of Calotropis gigantea (L. Ait. Asclepiadaceae) is mixed with old ghee (clarified butter) and applied on to painful areas twice daily for 7 days.
Can Calotropis cause blindness?
The plant Calotorpis procera is known by different name in different part of world like French cotton, Alarka, or Madar, Rooster tree, and Widuri. The plant is poisonous can lead to blindness if its juice is put in to the eyes. The same plant is used for Ayurvedic medicines. Calotropis, a well-known plant used in many traditional systems of medicines. Its roots and barks used as anticancer, anti-fertility, the antidote for snakebite, anti-scabietic.
Is Calotropis harmful to humans?
All parts of the plants are toxic; there are many case reports of gastrointestinal, cutaneous and ocular toxicity with Calotropis. The plant contains Cardenolide glycosides which have Digoxin like effects and can cause severe cardiotoxicity. Calotropis gigantea includes poisonous cardenolides that have been related to cardiotoxic effects, including calotropin, calactin, calotoxin and uscharin (6).All parts of the plant are toxic due to the presence of Cardiac glycosides. Leaves particularly contain three toxic glycosides: Calotropin, Uscharin, and Calotoxin. Calotropin glycoside acts on the Na+/K+ ATPase pump.
What are the benefits of Calotropis?
Calotropis contains chemicals that might help thin mucous and make it easier to cough up. In studies in animals, calotropis has shown some activity against pain, inflammation, bacteria, fever, and ulcers caused by alcohol and medications such as aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin), and others. Calotropis is a plant. People use the bark and root bark for medicine. People use calotropis for conditions such as digestive disorders, toothache, cramps, joint pain, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using calotropis is unsafe, especially in high doses.