Review Articles

2025  |  Vol: 10(1)  |  Issue: 1 (January-February) | https://doi.org/10.31024/apj.2025.10.1.2

Exploration of Phytochemistry and pharmacology of genus Calotropis

Abhilasha Shete¹, Dinesh Kumar Upadhyay¹, Suresh Kumar Dev^2*

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jaipur National University, Rajasthan, India.

²Venkateshwar Institute of Pharmacy, Sai Tirupati University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

*Address for Corresponding Author

Dr. Suresh Kumar Dev

Venkateshwar Institute of Pharmacy, Sai Tirupati University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

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Abstract

The species Calotropis Gigantea and Calotropis procera which is a member of the Apocynaceae family and the Asclepiadoideae subfamily, is known as milk weed in English and Aak or Madar in Hindi.  Even though it grows amid wastelands, this plant has a holy purpose: the blossoms are presented as sacrifices to the Hindu god Shiva.  Worldwide, indigenous communities rely on this plant as a remedy for a wide range of medical issues, including but not limited to: snake bites, chronic pain, asthma, epilepsy, cancer, erectile dysfunction, skin conditions, and many more.  Flavonoids, terpenoids, cardenolides, steroids, oxypregnanes, and other phytoconstituents are found in this plant.  Despite the abundance of articles on the ethnomedicinal applications, chemical composition, and pharmacological activity of Calotropis Gigantea and Calotropis procera that can be found through literature searches, there is a lack of current papers that offer a comprehensive assessment of its therapeutic potential and toxicity.  So, this review aims to summarize the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and therapeutic potential of Calotropis genus that cover both genus Gigantea and  Procera in a systematic way and to point out where our current understanding is lacking in order to spark new lines of inquiry.

Keywords: Calotropis procera, Calotropis Gigantea,  Madar, ethnomedicinal, Asthma, Epilepsy, Cancer