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| Calotropis gigantea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Calotropis |
| Species: | C. gigantea |
| Binomial name | |
| Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Calotropis gigantea, thecrown flower, is a species ofCalotropisnative toCambodia,Vietnam,Bangladesh,Indonesia,Malaysia,Philippines,Thailand,Sri Lanka,India,China,Pakistan, andNepal.[2]
It is a largeshrub growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall. It has clusters of waxy flowers that are either white or lavender in colour. Each flower consists of five pointedpetals and a small "crown" rising from the center which holds thestamens. Theaestivation found in calotropis is valvate i.e. sepals or petals in a whorl just touch one another at the margin, without overlapping. The plant has oval, light green leaves and milkystem. The latex ofCalotropis gigantea containscardiac glycosides,fatty acids, andcalcium oxalate. The roots also containCalotropone.[3]
This plant plays host to a variety of insects andbutterflies. It is the host plant for Hawaii's non-migratorymonarch butterflies.[4]Calotropis is an example ofentomophily pollination (pollination by insects) and pollination is achieved with the help of bees. InCalotropis, gynostegium is present (formed by the fusion ofstigma andandroecium). Thepollen are in a structure namedpollinia which is attached to a glandular, adhesive disc at the stigmatic angle (translator mechanism). These sticky discs get attached to the legs of visiting bees that pull out pollinia when a bee moves away. When such a bee visits another flower, this flower might be pollinated by the pollinium.[citation needed]
Large, white, not scented, peduncles arising between the petioles.Flower-buds ovoid, angled, Calyx lobes 5, divided to the base, white, ovate; corolla broadly rotate, valvate, lobes 5, deltoid ovate, reflexed, coronate-appendages broad, obtusely 2-auricled below the rounded apex which is lower than the staminal-column.Stamens 5, anthers short with membranous appendages, inflexed over the depressed apex of the pentagonal stigma.Pollinium one in each cell, pendulous caudicles slender.Carpels 2 distinct, styles 2, united to the single pentangular stigma, ovary 2-celled, ovules many.
Calotropis gigantea is known by various names across Indian languages and holds importance in traditional systems like Ayurveda and Siddha.
| Language | Vernacular Name | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | Ak / Madar | आक / मदार |
| Sanskrit | Arka | अर्क |
| Nepali | Aank | आँक |
| Tamil | Erukku | எருக்கு |
| Telugu | Jilledu | జిల్లేడు |
| Kannada | Ekka | ಎಕ್ಕ |
| Malayalam | Erikkam | എരിക്കം |
| Bengali | Akondo | আকন্দ |
The flowers are long lasting, and inThailand they are used in floral arrangements. The extract of flowers and leaves has shown hypoglycemic effect in preclinical studies.[8] They were favored by theHawaiianQueen Liliuokalani, who considered them a symbol of royalty and wore them strung intoleis. InCambodia, they are used in funerals to decorate the urn or sarcophagus and the interior of the house holding the funeral. Thefruit is afollicle and when dry,seed dispersal is bywind. InIndonesia its flowers are calledwiduri. According to theShiva Purana, the madar flower/crown flower is very much liked byLord Shiva; therefore the crown flower and its garland are offered to Lord Shiva for peace, prosperity and stability in society.[9] The Crown flower is also one of the major parts of the nine astrological trees (Navagrah tree).
Calotropis yields a durable fiber (commercially known as bowstring of India) useful for ropes, carpets, fishing nets, and sewing thread. Floss, obtained from seeds, is used as stuffing. Crown flower cotton can also be used to make a pillow. A fermented mixture ofCalotropis and salt is used to remove the hair from goat skins for production ofnari leather and from sheep skins to make leather which is much used for inexpensive book binding.[10] Fungicidal which is far effective than oinmentand insecticidal properties ofCalotropis have been reported.[11]
InIndia, the plant is common in the compounds oftemples and is known asmadar inHindi:मदार. Its leaf (Marathi:rui) is one of the five leaves used in thePanch Pallava, a ritual assortment of five different leaves used as a totem by theMaratha culture in India.[12]
Allelopathic effects ofCalotropis on different agricultural crops have been well studied.[13] Extracts of plant parts such as root, stem, and leaf affect germination and seedling vigor of many agricultural crops.[14][15][16] However, extracts ofCalotropis failed to produce any detrimental effects on weeds such asChenopodium album,Melilotus alba,Melilotus indica,Sphaeranthus indicus, andPhalaris minor.[14]
Many plant and animal extracts have been used asarrow poisons all over the world. In many cases, the poison was applied to the arrow or spear to aid thehunting of prey.Alkaloids are among the most powerful plant poisons, and extracts ofStrychnos species are commonly used. Other arrow poisons are commonlycardiac glycosides, which can be found indigitalis, but most of these arrow poisons are derived from plants in the familyApocynaceae.[17] This family includesCalotropis gigantea and the more potentCalotropis procera. Thelatex of these plants has been used in Africa as an arrow poison.Apocynaceae species often contain a mixture of cardiac glycosides, including calactin, uscharin, calotoxin, andcalotropin.[18] These poisons work by inhibiting thesodium-potassium pump, and this effect is especially potent in thecardiac tissues.[19] The cardiac effects can be applied for heart medication, and digitalis has been used as such. However, excessive doses can causearrhythmia, which can lead to death.[20]
Given the potentbioactivity of calotropin,calotropis gigantea has been used as a folk medicine in India for many years, and has been reported to have a variety of uses. InAyurveda, Indian practitioners have used the root and leaf ofC. procera inasthma and also used in bacterial infection, swelling with redness, boils also and shortness of breath and the bark inliver andspleen diseases. The plant is reported as effective in treatingskin,digestive,respiratory,circulatory andneurological disorders and was used to treatfevers,elephantiasis,nausea,vomiting, anddiarrhea. The milky juice ofCalotropis procera was used againstarthritis,cancer, and as anantidote for snake bite.[21] However, these reports are of folk uses and more research is needed to confirm the clinical usefulness of the leaves, latex, and bark. Recent studies have displayed use of calotropin as acontraceptive[22] and as a potential cancer medication.[23] In one study of the cancer-fighting properties of Calotropis gigantea,DCM extracts were demonstrated to be strongly cytotoxic againstnon-small cell lung carcinoma (A549),colon carcinoma (HCT 116), andhepatocellular carcinoma in hamsters (Hep G2). These extracts show potential as cancer medications and warrant further clinical research.[24]
Calotropis is apoisonous plant. The active principles areuscharin,calotoxin,calactin, andcalotropin.[citation needed] The leaves and stem when incised yield thick milky juice. It is used as an arrow poison, cattle poison(see alsoSutari), rarely for suicide and homicide and mostly an accidental poison.
The milky latex sap ofCalotropis gigantea is a known cause of toxickeratoconjunctivitis and reversible vision loss. Crown flower keratitis is a rare condition and is usually the result of accidental ocular exposure to the sap. During the process of making a Hawaiian lei flower necklace, touching the sap and then touching the ocular surface may result in crown flower keratitis. Damage (poisoning) of the cornea endothelium results in corneal stromal edema and decreased visual acuity. Although there is some permanent damage to the corneal endothelium with decreased endothelial cell count and irregular shape, the remaining corneal endothelial cells usually recover with complete resolution of the corneal edema and a return to normal visual acuity. The condition is usually self-limited and resolves faster with topical steroids. The clinical course of this condition suggests thatCalotropis is paradoxically relatively nontoxic to corneal epithelium and highly toxic to corneal endothelium. The painless clinical course may be related to anesthetic properties ofCalotropis latex and relatively minor epithelial injury.[25][26][27]
Applied to the skin, it causes redness and vesication. When taken orally, the juice produces an acrid, bitter taste and burning pain in throat and stomach, salivation, stomatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, tetanic convulsions, collapse and death. The fatal period is 6 to 12 hours.[citation needed] Treatment includes stomach wash, demulcents, and symptomatic treatment.[medical citation needed]
C. gigantea is reported to exhibit mosquito controlling properties againstCulex gelidus andCulex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes which serve as vectors forJapanese encephalitis. The aqueous extract of theC. gigantea leaves demonstrated significant larvicidal, repellent and ovicidal activity.[28]
In the Paushya chapter of theAdi Parva portion of the Indian epicMahabharata, a disciple of therishi Ayoda-Daumya named Upamanya goes blind by eating the leaves of the plant which inSanskrit is calledarka.
However, in India, among the general public, it is the belief thatakada (arka) is a poisonous plant and can make people intoxicated. Lord Shiva is offeredakada along withdhatura (botanically:Datura metel) (extremely toxic) flowers on auspicious days.[citation needed]
"श्वेतार्क का पेड" is the name of the tree and flowers are called as "अकौआ" ओर "श्वेतार्क के फूल" in Hindi. In Marathi the local name is Ruhi (pronounced ruheé).
In Hindu mythology, it is considered the favourite flower ofLord Shiva and hence its flowers are commonly offered to the deity. It is a belief that the flower makes the deity happy, subsequent to which he showers his blessings upon the worshippers.[citation needed]
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