Rakta arka

Sanskrit Name: Rakta Arka, Arka

Identificatio No: SDACH/HG/288

Botanical Name: Calotropis procera

Family Name: Apocynaceae (previously Asclepiadaceae)

Vernacular Names:
Hindi: Aak, Madar
Marathi: Rui
Gujarati: Akado
Tamil: Erukku

Classification
Bhavaprakasha: Haritakyadi Varga

Habitat & Distribution:
Widely distributed throughout India in dry, arid regions, wastelands, roadsides, and rural areas. Tolerant to drought and poor soils. Found from sea level to 1000 m altitude.

Morphology
A large, erect, milky shrub or small tree, 1–5 m high.
Leaves: Opposite, subsessile, ovate-oblong, thick, green-grey, pubescent.
Flowers: Large, waxy, purplish or white, arranged in umbellate cymes.
Fruits: Follicle, oblong, inflated, containing numerous seeds.
Seeds: Compressed, brown, with a tuft of white silky hairs.
Latex: White, thick, milky, and bitter.

Varieties:

• Calotropis gigantea (Shveta Arka – white variety)

Substitute / Adulterant:
Substitute: Calotropis gigantea is often used interchangeably
Adulterant: Pergularia daemia and other Apocynaceae members may be adulterants

Phytochemicals:

• Alkaloids: Calotropin, uscharin
• Cardiac glycosides: Calotoxin, calactin
• Triterpenoids
• Flavonoids
• Latex enzymes: Proteases
• Saponins
• Resins

Rasapanchaka:
Rasa: Katu, Tikta
Guna: Laghu, Tikshna, Snigdha
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Katu
Prabhava: Shothahara, Vranahara
Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Vata Shamaka

Karma (Rogaghnata):

• Deepana (digestive stimulant)
• Pachana (carminative)
• Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)
• Vranahara (wound healer)
• Krimighna (anthelmintic)
• Vishaghna (detoxifier)
• Kandughna (anti-pruritic)

Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses:

External:

• Latex applied on wounds, boils, and insect bites
• Leaf heated and applied over painful swellings and arthritis
• Oil prepared from root bark used in Vata disorders
• Flowers used in Dhoopana (fumigation) for respiratory disorders

Internal:

• Used in small doses in chronic skin diseases, indigestion
• Latex used cautiously as a purgative in certain formulations
• Root bark used in decoctions for helminthiasis and ascites (only after purification)

Part Used:
Leaves, root bark, flowers, latex

Dose:
Churna (Root bark): 250–500 mg
Svarasa (Latex): 1–2 drops (purified and cautiously used)
Patra lepa: As required
Taila: External use only

Yoga / Formulations:

• Vatsanabha Arka
• Dhoopan yoga for skin and respiratory infections
• Agnikarma with Arka Patra for local pain

IUCN Status:
Least Concern (LC).

Research Updates

1. Sharma et al., 2022: Demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory properties of C. procera leaf extract in animal models of arthritis.
2. Kumar et al., 2021: Phytochemical study identified potent antioxidant and wound-healing constituents in the latex.
3. Ali et al., 2019: Antibacterial activity of C. procera root and latex extracts showed efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.