The biology of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. (original) (raw)
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Demography and size structure of the giant milkweed shrub Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton
Studies on plant population demography and size structure provide important base for monitoring and managing plant species. The present study investigated the monthly variation in plant demography, population dynamics and size structure of Calotropis procera in urban areas, South Cairo, Egypt. Sixty-three permanent quadrats were selected to represent the monthly variation in the characteristics of C. procera population all over one year. The highest plant density was attained in June and the lowest in February and March. The highest biomass was recorded in November, but the lowest in March. The maximum individual's height was recorded from August to January, while the minimum was in late winter. The monthly size distribution indicated that C. procera had three different size distributions along the whole year: more or less inverse J-shape, positively skewed and bimodal size distribution. The maximum plant survival was correlated with the availability of soil moisture. The demographic flux indicated that the new branches of plant were mainly formed during April and June, followed by significant mortality in July and October. This study may contribute in planning for managing and conserving this medicinal plant.
Therapeutic Potential of Calotropis procera: A giant milkweed
Medicinal plants are the local heritage with global importance playing a vital role in world health care system of developing countries. Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae), a giant milk weed, is known for its pharmacological importance for centuries. The coarse shrub is a very promising source of anticancerous, ascaricidal, schizonticidal, anti-microbial, anthelmintic, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, larvicidal with many other beneficial properties. Plant is described as a golden gift for human kind containing calotropin, calotropagenin, calotoxin, calactin, uscharin, amyrin, amyrin esters, uscharidin, coroglaucigenin, frugoside, corotoxigenin, calotropagenin and voruscharine used in many therapeutic applications. Different compounds like norditerpenic esters, organic carbonates, the cysteine protease procerain, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols and numerous cardenolides made this plant of scientific attraction for centuries. Plant is not only a great source of natural hydrocarbons but also contains several metabolites used as folk medicine for the treatment of leprosy, elephantiasis, fever, menorrhagia, malaria and snake bite. The review discusses the potential of Calotropis procera in health care management.
Calotropis Procera (Asclepiadaceae) : A Review
Calotropis procera belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is a erect, soft wooded, evergreen perennial shrub. C. procera commonly known as " Akra " and " milk weed ". All the parts (root, stem, leaf and flowers) of C. procera are in common use in traditionally system of medicine. The present paper is an attempt to provide a detailed botanical description, classification, pharmacological study of the plant.
Some new ethnomedicinal uses of Milkweed in the Indian desert
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2005
Indian desert revealed many ethnomedicinal uses of commonly occurring Asclepiadaceous shrub called Milkweed, Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. The information has been compared with 43 uses reported in previously published records and a total of 28 new medicinal uses have been found. Veterinary uses of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. have also been reported. In view of its new curative uses, need for their pharmacological validation has been emphasized.
Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 2021
Background and Objective: Cultivating Calotropis procera for fiber supply to the textile industry can improve the livelihoods of communities in arid and semi-arid regions. This study determined edaphic and climatic factors affecting phenological traits of C. procera in the semi-arid regions of Kenya. Materials and Methods: Repeated measure research design was used with multistage sampling technique to monitor activity indices, number of flowers and fruits and phenophase intensities. Climatic and edaphic factors of study sites were also monitored. Data was analyzed using linear, Poisson log linear regression based on Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) and Mixed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: High Soil Organic Carbon (OC) content (3%) and exchangeable Na (112.5 ppm) at (0-20) cm soil depth were recorded in Tharaka. High mean monthly rainfall (160.37 mm) was recorded in Makueni. Flowering activity indices (June-August, 2018) were 64.97% and 69.6% in Tharaka and Makueni, respectively. Available P, average monthly rainfall and temperature had significant association with flowering and fruiting activity indices (p<0.05). The mean number of flowers and fruits per stem were significantly associated with soil available P, exchangeable Na and OC content (p<0.05). Though edaphic factors were not significantly associated with phenophase intensities of C. procera, average monthly rainfall and temperature were positively and negatively associated with phenophase intensities, respectively. Conclusion: Available P, exchangeable Na, available K and OC content noticeably affect phenological traits of naturally growing C. procera. Rains and temperatures are critical climatic factors affecting phenological traits of C. procera. Key words: Calotropis procera, phenology, phenophase intensity, activity index, edaphic
International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 2014
Caloropis procera is a multipurpose plant that is extensively used by traditional folk healers and local people for preparation of different drugs and ailments of choice to treat different diseases and disorders. Plant contains diverse phyto-chemicals which show various pharmaceutical and ethno-medicinal properties. Two related species are of Asclepiadaceae, Caloropis procera and Calotropis gigantea, and both possess enormous disease curing potential against various infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and worms; and are widely used for treatment of different diseases and physiological disorders. Active components of Calotropis procera displayed cytostatic, cytotoxic, wound healing, procogulant, analgesic, anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-fertility, antipyretic, anti-coccidial, anticancer, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Natural Calotropis latex in preserved and concentrated forms finds many pharmaceutical applications and may be more useful in interventional therapies, complementary and alternative medicine to cure different types of cancers. Latex can be used for preparation of various herbal drugs and drug templates which might be non-steroidal and show wider cancer suppressing efficacy in patients. Plant can become a future source of therapeutic drugs, pesticides and industrial products. It can be used for phyto-extraction of toxic chemicals and reclamation of polluted derelict lands.
Calotropis procera (Arka): A Tribal Herb of Utmost Significance
2021
Nature has gifted humans a vast variety of medicinal plants, which are the rich source of bioactive compounds. Calotropis procera is an important medicinal plant that belongs to the family asclepiadaceae. It is commonly known as madar and milkweed plant in english and arka in hindi. It is mostly found in the tropics of asia and africa. Calotropis procera is a highly valued plant in the folk medication system. Each part of the plant is richly endowed with diverse nature of phytochemical constituents like alkaloids, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, saponins, terpenes, and flavonoids, etc. These phytochemicals are significantly associated with various therapeutic and pharmacological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antifertility, anti-diarrheal, and spasmolytic. In this review article, the therapeutic and pharmacological value of this important plant has been summarized along with its utilization in the folklore and ayurvedic medicinal s...
European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Nowadays, attention is being paid to exploration of possibilities of exploiting new and under-utilized plant resources with the aim of meeting the growing societal needs. Calotropis procera is one among the many under-utilized species despite its many economic and ecological uses. This study was done to characterize the phenology of the species and determine its potential for domestication for wool production. Phenological data was used to generate charts that depicted the flowering and fruiting phenophases for three provenances for four seasons. The data was subjected to Test of Homogeneity of Variances to isolate significant differences in study parameters. Spearman rank pair-wise correlations between wet seasons and flowering were done. Flowering intensity in different months of the year was significantly different (p<0.05) with clear-cut flowering phenophases. Flowering and fruiting durations and active phases were significantly longer and high (p<0.001) during the wet sea...
Review on a Potential Herb Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br
The beginning of civilization, human beings have worshiped plants and such plants are conserved as a genetic resource and used as food, fodder, fibre, fertilizer, fuel, febrifuge and in every other way. Calotropis gigantea is one such plant. In this review the systematic position, vernacular names, vegetative characters, Ecology and distribution, phytochemistry and the economical values of the Calotropis gigantea are discussed.