AN OVERVIEW OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA’S PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Abstract

Calotropis procera is a member of the Apocynaceae family and subfamily Asclepiadoideae. It is commonly known as Aak or Madar in Hindi and milk weed in English. Despite being a wasteland plant, its blossoms are dedicated to Lord Shiva, a Hindu god, making it a sacred plant. The herb is used by tribes worldwide to treat a wide range of illnesses, including skin conditions, sexual dysfunction, cancer, asthma, epilepsy, bodily discomfort, and snake bites. Numerous phytoconstituents, including cardenolides, oxypregnanes, terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids, are present in this plant. Despite the abundance of articles regarding the chemical makeup, pharmacological activity, and ethnomedicinal uses of Calotropis procera that come up in literature searches, there aren’t any recent papers that give a summary of the toxicity and therapeutic potential of the plant.In light of this, the review’s goal is to present a comprehensive overview of the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and therapeutic potential of Calotropis procera while also highlighting information gaps to serve as a source of inspiration for further investigation. Other names for Calotropis procera include Aak and Madar. The phytochemistry, toxicity, pharmacology, and therapeutic potential of Calotropis procera are all systematically summarized in this paper.