Medicinal plant continues to provide newer lead compounds against various pharmacological targets and considered as the prime source of bioactive compounds for the new drug discovery. Due to the presence of active principles, interest in medicinal plants is undergoing in a renaissance. Calotropis procera Linn. (Family: Asclepiadaecae) is a common medicinal plant in Bangladesh, locally known as Akondo. The plant is reputed among the rural people due to its wide applications in traditional folk medicines. Considering its potential, the plant is used in the treatment of various respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders as well as ailments in headache, inflammation, fever, paralysis, rheumatism, vertigo, leprosy, dropsy, penile dysfunction, elephantiasis, helminthiasis,menorrhea, snake poisoning, baldness, eczema and other skin diseases. Plant possesses significant amount of phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolics, phytosterols, triterpenes, cardenolides and other promising phytoconstituents. Moreover, the plant has anti-inflammatory, anti-helmintic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-dysenteric, antifertility, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antipyretic, spasmolytic, antiasthmatic, antimalarial, analgesic, antinociceptive, anticonvulsant, anti-tumor, antidiabetic, wound healing and hepatoprotective activities. The aim of the present study was to compile the geographical distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities as well as to underscore the future prospects of the plant in isolating potential lead compounds for new drug discovery and development.
Keywords: Akondo, ethnomedicinal uses, cardenolides, calotropin, calotoxin
28-Feb-2025
