Abstract

Preeti Chaudhary*, Shamim Ahamad, Najam Ali Khan

ABSTRACT

Calotropis procera is a wild growing plant of family Asclepiadaceae. It is well known for its medicinal properties. The present paper enumerates the medicinal utility of different parts of Calotropis procera for the treatment of various human ailments. Different parts of this plant have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, antihelmintic, hepatoprotective, antidiarrhoeal, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, oestrogenic, antinociceptive, antimalarial and antioxidant properties. Calotropis procera contains various phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, sterol, saponins, triterpinoids, tannins, resins, anthocyanins, proteolytic enzymes in latex, cardenolide, cardiac glycosides which are responsible for different pharmacological activities. Calotropis procera is a well known plant and has been traditionally used for diarrhoea, stomatic, sinus fistula, and skin disease and the leaf part is used to treat jaundice. It also has been used as a purgative, digestive, emetic, expectorant, sedative, blood purifier, an antidote for snake poisoning.3.