Abstract

TAXONOMICAL STUDIES OF CALOTROPIS SPECIES IN CHURU DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN

Rakesh Kumar Verma* and Dr. Manoj Yadav

Abstract

Calotropis a medicinal plant of family Asclepiadaceae has been utilized in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and many other traditional systems to cure diseases. There are two common species of Calotropis viz. Calotropis gigantean (Linn.) R. Br. and Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. Calotropis gigantea called Swetarka and Calotropis procera called Raktarka. Secondary metabolites of Calotropis have well known pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. Chemical constituents of plants such as alkoloids, steroid, terpenoids, resin, glycosides, carbohydrates, etc are reported in Ayurvedic literature. This present review enumerates the morphology and ethno pharmacology utilization of C. procera and C. gigantea for the treatment of various human ailments. This plant has been known to possesses antibacterial activity, anti- inflammatory activity, schizontocidal activity, anti larvicidal activity, antioxidant activity, skin disease, jaundice, leucoderma, eczema, ulcer, piles, dysentery, dropsy, ring worm, removing thorn from body, elephantiasis and leprosy and other miscellaneous activities.

Keywords: Calotropis gigantean, Calotropis procera.