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