What is Calotropis procera used for?
Calotropis procera (C. Its ability to tolerate abiotic stresses and its morphophysiological adaptation have made it popular worldwide. Calotropis procera is a well known plant and has been traditionally used for diarrhoea, stomatic, sinus fistula, and skin disease,[2,3] and the leaf part is used to treat jaundice. There are many reports on the geographical distribution, habitat, and morphological characters of the plant.Calotropis is a widely prevalent plant in the Indian Subcontinent. The extract and various parts of the plant are used by traditional healers for treating miscellaneous diseases. All parts of the plants are toxic; there are many case reports of gastrointestinal, cutaneous and ocular toxicity with Calotropis.Despite serious safety concerns, calotropis is used for digestive disorders including diarrhea, constipation and stomach ulcers; for painful conditions including toothache, cramps, and joint pain; and for parasitic infections including elephantiasis and worms.Background: Calotropis procera commonly known as Madar is common shrub all over India. Its chemical component Calotropin, which is derived from latex is known to cause injury to eyes and oral mucosa. Toxic manifestations following accidental ingestion are mostly gastrointestinal.In ancient Ayurvedic medicine the plant Calotropis procera was known as “Rakta arka”. The pungent latex extracted from the leaves and fl owers of Calotropis procera is processed and used in the commercial preparation of eye tonics. Content may be subject to copyright.
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.Calotropis latex contains tannins which are known to promote wound healing mainly due to their astringent and antimicrobial properties that contribute to wound contraction and increased rate of epithelisation [Shivananda et al.The plant is poisonous, but has been used in small amounts for folk remedies for various ailments, and continues to be studied for anticoagulant and anticancer properties. Various parts of Calotropis have been reported in many studies to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties.Traditional uses of Calotropis include treating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory skin disorders. Its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties may contribute to these potential benefits.
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. What are the systemic toxic signs and symptoms of Calotropis plant? The plant is bitter in taste. It produces burning pain in the throat, salivation, nausea, vomiting, etc.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.Case report. A 27 year old patient reported with Calotropis plant milky sap drop entering into his left eye accidently. He developed an immediate burning sensation, redness of eyes and photophobia. He washed the eyes thoroughly after which the burning improved but his vision slowly reduced over a period of 2 h.
What are the common names for Calotropis procera?
Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. Apocynaceae, mainly found in arid and semi-arid regions. Similar Species calotrope (Calotropis procera) is a large shrub growing 1-4 m tall. Its flowers are slightly cup-shaped in appearance and their relatively short and broad petals are whitish with purple tips. Calotropis gigantea) is a large shrub or small tree often growing more than 4.