Calotropis GIGANTEA (L.) R. Br.


Synonym : Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br.
Asclepias gigantea L.
Madorius giganteus (L.) Kuntze
Periploca cochinchinensis Lour.
Bangla Name : Akanda, Bara Akand. ,Marufu, Su Gru Ba (Marma). English name: Gigantic Swallow wort, Mudar, Swallow Tree
English Name : -
Family : Asclepiadaceae
Disease : diaphoretic, emetic, alterative, purgative, dysentery, asthma, elephantiasis, syphilis, leucoderma, tumours and ascites
Description : A tall shrub with white latex, up to 3 m high. Leaves 10-20 cm long, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong, thick. Flowers 3.8-5 cm diam, purplish or white, in umbellate lateral cymes. Fruits, a pair of follicles, 9-10 cm long, broad, thick, tapering at both ends.
Distribution : Throughout the country in road side and fallow lands.
Chemical Constituents : Chemical constituents: The principal constituent of the leaves and stems is milky latex, which contains protease enzymes, calotropain FI, calotropain FII, calotropisn DI and DII and uscharine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, calotoxin, calactin and caoutcho
Uses : Root bark is diaphoretic, emetic, alterative and purgative, useful in dysentery, asthma, elephantiasis and syphilis. It acts like digitalis on heart. The powder of the root promotes gastric secretion and acts as a mild stimulant and may be given with carm
Habit : Shrub