Constituents and uses of Calotropis Procera, Apple of Sodom
Constituents
The principal constituents are mudarine, acid, resin and 3 glycosides-
calotropin, uscharin and calotoxin.
The latex contains powerful bacteriolytic enzyme2 and toxic glycoside
calactin, calotropin D1, calotropin D2, calotropin F1 and calotropin F2.
Uses
- Though a very toxic herb it is used widely for medicinal, laxative,
healing and anthemintic properties.
- It helps in curing ulcers and act as expectorant. Hindu physicians
have been using the secretion from the root bark which treats skin
diseases, intestinal parasites, cough, abscises and enlargement of
abdominal viscera.
- The milky juice produced by this plant is purgative and caustic.
Flowers help to improve indigestion, catarrh and appetite.
- The root bark is also used for cure elephantiasis in south India.
- The leaves boiled with oil used to treat paralysis and the crushed
leaves are used in wound healing.
- The juice is taken by women that work as an abortifacient to induce
abortion.
