Byline: Ravi. Upadhyay

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.

INTRODUCTION

Calotropis procera (Aiton) is a spreading shrub or medium-sized tree of 2.5 to 6 m of height after attaining age of 3-5 years. It is a multipurpose tree commonly known as Madar in Hindi [Figure 1]. Plant forms a deep taproot system up to 3-4 m in depth, and form secondary root system when injured severely. It forms woody lateral roots that may rapidly regenerate adventitious shoots. The stems are crooked and covered with a fissured corky bark and yield a fiber useful for making ropes, bags, nets and paper. [sup][1] Plant possesses gray green sessile leaves of 15-30-cm long and 2.5-10-cm broad having succulent and waxy appearance. [sup][2] The flowers are non-scented, small, cream or greenish white at the base and purple violet at the extremity of the lobes and pentamerous. Follicles are recurved with 2 or 1 follicles, second more often suppressed, 3-4" long. The fruit is green, fleshy and inflated, up to 10 cm or more in diameter and arranged laterally one after one. [sup][1] The seeds contain a white silky floss [sup][3] which help to spread seeds by wind, livestock, wild animals and flood water and transported on long distances. [sup][4] That helps to find new locations for its floral establishment. Young pods, senescing leaves and flowers of C. procera are used as source of fodder for cattle in semi-arid region, but latex bearing aerial plant parts of C. procera are highly toxic and harmful to livestock. Plant is a potential source of renewable energy [sup][4] and its dry stem is a good source of fuel, fire wood and timber for local people. [sup][1] It also yields ash which is used for making gun powder. The bark yields white silky strong and durable fiber which is used for making, cordage, ropes, carpets, fishing nets and lines, bow strings and twines,...