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|title=Charak Samhita

|titlemode=append

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|description=Arka (Calotropis procera R. Br.) is described in Charak Samhita among the Bhedaniya and Svedopaga mahakashayas and as a Shodhana (Ksheera) vriksha. It is traditionally indicated in Shvasa, Kushtha, Krimi, Shotha and Vrana.

|image=http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/resources/assets/ogimgs.jpg

|image_alt=charak samhita

|type=article

}}[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotropis_procera Calotropis procera R. Br.]

{{Infobox

|title = Arka

|label1 = Section/Chapter

|data1 = Herb database/Arka

|label2 = Botanical name(s)

|data2 = [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotropis_procera Calotropis procera R. Br.]

|label3 = Family

|data3 = Asclepiadaceae (as per API); Apocynaceae in current classification

|label4 = Availability

|data4 = Available

|label5 = Contributors

|data5 = [[Team Dravyaguna]]

|label6 = Year of publication

|data6 = 2026

|label7 = Publisher

|data7 = [[Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre]]

|label8 = DOI

|data8 = Awaited

}}

'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotropis_procera Calotropis procera R. Br.]''', known in Ayurveda as '''Arka''', is a shrub that yields a milky latex from all its parts. Its dried leaf is the official drug part in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), where it is described as found wild more or less throughout India.<ref name="API"/> Ayurvedic toxicology describes the genus ''Calotropis'' as having two species, ''C. procera'' (Rakta arka) and ''C. gigantea'' (Sweta arka).<ref name="Wadhwani2021"/>

==English name ==

Madar, Madar tree

==Therapeutic Use==

Shvasa (dyspnoea), Gulma (abdominal lump), Krimiroga (worm infestation), Kandu (itching), Kushtha (skin diseases), Vrana (wounds and ulcers), Shotha (oedema), Shleshmodara roga, Pliharoga (splenic disorders), Arsha (haemorrhoids)<ref name="API"/>

==Other Varieties / Other Botanical names==

* Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton (name authority used in recent literature)<ref name="Wadhwani2021"/>

== Synonyms in Charak Samhita==

Arka, Sadapushpi, Kshiraparna, Ashphot, Ravi, Bhanu, Tapana, Tulaphala, Vikirana.

== Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions ==

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Herbs and their activities

|-

! Sr.no. !! Reference in Charak Samhita !! Activity

|-

| 1 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 1/114 || Shodhana (Ksheera) vriksha ([[Vamana]] and [[Virechana]]) (Therapeutic emesis and purgation)

|-

| 2 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 4/9(4) || Bhedaniya mahakashaya

|-

| 3 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 4/9(22) || Svedopaga mahakashaya

|-

| 4 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 14/31 || Dravya for Nadi Sweda

|-

| 5 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 14/42 || Dravya for Prastara Sweda

|-

| 6 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 14/43 || Dravya for Nadi Sweda

|-

| 7 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 26/49 || Veerya varnan

|-

| 8 || Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 27/132 || Phala Varga

|-

| 9 || Cha.Sa.[[Vimana Sthana]] 6/17 || Abhyantar Krimi Chikitsa

|-

| 10 || Cha.Sa.[[Vimana Sthana]] 8/135 || Vaman dravyani

|-

| 11 || Cha.Sa.[[Vimana Sthana]] 8/143 || Tiktaskandha

|-

| 12 || Cha.Sa.[[Kalpa Sthana]] 1/14 || Vamanarth

|-

| 13 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 3/267 || As an ingredient of Agurvadi taila

|-

| 14 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 7/57 || For Scrapping

|-

| 15 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 7/85 || Bahyaprayogarth lepa in mandal Kushth

|-

| 16 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 7/102 || Bahyaprayogarth tail in Kushth

|-

| 17 ||Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 7/106 || Ingredient in Sweta-karavirapallavadhya Tail

|-

| 18 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 7/112 || Ingredient in Kanakakshiri Tail

|-

| 19 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 10/34 || Ingredient in Palankashadi tail

|-

| 20 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/44 || Used in avasechana in arsha roga

|-

| 21 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/49 || Used in dhupana

|-

| 22 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 14/57 || Used as lepa

|-

| 23 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/183 || Used in preparation of Chaturtha Kshara

|-

| 24 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 17/125 || As an ingredient of muktadhya churna

|-

| 25 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 21/126 || As an ingredient of Dantyadi lepa

|-

| 26 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 23/56 || As an ingredient of Mrita sanjivani agada

|-

| 27 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 23/209 || Used in the treatment of vrushchika visha

|-

| 28 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 23/216 || Used in the treatment of Gruhagodha visha

|-

| 29 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 23/244 || As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita

|-

| 30 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 25/87 || Used as vranaropaka kashaya

|-

| 31 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 25/95 || Used as Patra-aachhadana on vrana

|-

| 32 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/13 || Used to make Udavarta varti

|-

| 33 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 26/24 || Used as Udavarta nashaka yoga

|-

| 34 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 22/27 || As Pathya in Urustambha

|-

| 35 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 27/54 || As an ingredient of Vatsakadi Pralepa

|-

| 36 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 27/50 || As an ingredient of Utsadana Yoga

|-

| 37 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 29/148 || Apply lepa for Kaphaja Vatarakta

|-

| 38 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 30/71 || As an ingredient of Arkadi varti

|-

| 39 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 30/82 || For Yoni prakshalana

|-

| 40 || Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 30/109 || Used in the treatment of Karnini

|}

== Ayurvedic pharmacological properties ==

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Properties

|-

! Sr.no. !! Pharmacological criteria !! Properties

|-

| 1 || Taste ([[rasa]]) || Pungent (katu), Bitter (tikta)

|-

| 2 || Potency ([[veerya]]) || Hot (ushna)

|-

| 3 || Post digestion effect ([[vipaka]]) || Pungent (katu)

|-

| 4 || Qualities ([[guna]]) || Light (laghu), Rough (ruksha), Sharp (tikshna)

|-

| 5 || Actions ([[karma]]) || Pacify [[kapha]] and [[vata]]; red variety pacifies [[kapha]] and [[pitta]]

|}

=== Properties as per API ===

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Properties (API)

|-

! Sr.no. !! Pharmacological criteria !! Properties

|-

| 1 || Taste ([[rasa]]) || Katu, Tikta

|-

| 2 || Qualities ([[guna]]) || Laghu, Sara, Snigdha

|-

| 3 || Potency ([[veerya]]) || Ushna

|-

| 4 || Post digestion effect ([[vipaka]]) || Katu

|-

| 5 || Actions ([[karma]]) || Bhedana, Dipana, Krimighna, Vishaghna, Vranahara, Vatahrit, Shopha, Shvasahara

|}<ref name="API"/>

==Dose==

250–750 mg of the drug in powder form.<ref name="API"/>

==Important Formulations==

As per A.P.I.<ref name="API"/>

* Arkalavana

== Current availability==

Available

* In India – Found wild more or less throughout India.<ref name="API"/>

== Current researches ==

== Phytochemical Composition ==

* '''Glycoside:''' Calotropin, the constituent listed for the leaf in the API.<ref name="API"/>

* '''Cardenolide glycosides (root bark):''' A new cardenolide glycoside, proceraside A, together with frugoside and calotropin, was isolated from the root bark of ''Calotropis procera''; the compounds were cytotoxic to A549, U373 and PC-3 cancer cell lines in vitro.<ref name="Ibrahim2014"/>

== Pharmacological Activities & Therapeutic Efficacy ==

Experimental studies on ''Calotropis procera'' report anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Most of the evidence is in vitro or in animals, and clinical studies are lacking.<ref name="Parihar2016"/>

=== Anti-inflammatory Action ===

Ayurvedic correlation: Shotha (API therapeutic use) and Shothahara karma.

* '''Mechanism:''' Aqueous and methanol extracts of the dried latex were tested in the rat paw oedema model against inflammation induced by histamine, serotonin, compound 48/80, bradykinin and prostaglandin E2.

* '''Scientific Evidence:''' The extracts inhibited oedema mainly through effects on histamine and bradykinin, and partly on prostaglandin E2. Against carrageenin they were more effective than phenylbutazone, and they reduced cellular infiltration.<ref name="Arya2005"/>

=== Wound Healing ===

Ayurvedic correlation: Vrana (API therapeutic use) and Vranahara karma.

* '''Scientific Evidence:''' An aqueous leaf extract (25 and 50 mg/kg) was tested in incision and excision wound models in Wistar rats. It significantly increased breaking strength and percentage wound contraction and shortened the epithelization period compared with controls. The same study also reported a lowering of serum total bilirubin in hyperbilirubinemic rats.<ref name="Patil2015"/>

=== Antifungal Action ===

Ayurvedic correlation: Kandu, Kushtha and Krimiroga (API therapeutic uses).

* '''Scientific Evidence:''' A methanolic leaf extract at 5 mg/mL showed significant in vitro antifungal activity against the fungal strains tested.<ref name="Rasool2024"/>

=== Cytotoxic and Anticancer Potential (Calotropin) ===

* '''Mechanism:''' Calotropin, a cardenolide isolated from ''Calotropis procera'' and other milkweeds, inhibits the Na+/K+-ATPase pump, which is the first established mechanism of cardenolides, and shows cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects in many cancer cell lines.

* '''Scientific Evidence:''' The evidence is preclinical. No clinical trials of calotropin in cancer are available, and data on its adverse effects in humans are insufficient.<ref name="Rajkovic2023"/>

== Safety and Dosage ==

* '''Standard Therapeutic Dosage (API):''' 250–750 mg of the drug in powder form.<ref name="API"/>

* '''Toxicity:''' All parts of the plant exude a milky, toxic latex, and ''C. procera'' is reported to be more toxic than ''C. gigantea''. The drug should therefore be used only in classical doses and under professional supervision.<ref name="Wadhwani2021"/>

== Summary of Therapeutic Profile ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"

|+ Therapeutic Applications of ''Calotropis procera''

! Indication

! Active Biomolecules

! Primary Pharmacological Action

|-

| '''Inflammation / Shotha'''

| Latex extracts (constituents not individually established)

| Inhibition of histamine-, bradykinin- and PGE2-mediated oedema

|-

| '''Wounds / Vrana'''

| Aqueous leaf extract

| Increased breaking strength and wound contraction, shorter epithelization period

|-

| '''Fungal infections'''

| Methanolic leaf extract

| In vitro antifungal activity

|-

| '''Cancer (experimental)'''

| Calotropin and other cardenolides

| Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition, cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines

|}

== References ==

{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="API">Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:13-14</ref>

<ref name="Parihar2016">{{cite journal |last1=Parihar |first1=G. |last2=Balekar |first2=N. |year=2016 |title=Calotropis procera: a phytochemical and pharmacological review |journal=Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=115–131}}</ref>

<ref name="Wadhwani2021">{{cite journal |last1=Wadhwani |first1=B. D. |last2=Mali |first2=D. |last3=Vyas |first3=P. |last4=Nair |first4=R. |last5=Khandelwal |first5=P. |year=2021 |title=A review on phytochemical constituents and pharmacological potential of Calotropis procera |journal=RSC Advances |volume=11 |issue=57 |pages=35854–35878 |doi=10.1039/d1ra06703f}}</ref>

<ref name="Ibrahim2014">{{cite journal |last1=Ibrahim |first1=S. R. M. |last2=Mohamed |first2=G. A. |last3=Shaala |first3=L. A. |last4=Moreno Y Banuls |first4=L. |last5=Kiss |first5=R. |last6=Youssef |first6=D. T. A. |year=2014 |title=Proceraside A, a new cardiac glycoside from the root barks of Calotropis procera with in vitro anticancer effects |journal=Natural Product Research |volume=28 |pages=1322–1327 |doi=10.1080/14786419.2014.901323}}</ref>

<ref name="Arya2005">{{cite journal |last1=Arya |first1=S. |last2=Kumar |first2=V. L. |year=2005 |title=Antiinflammatory efficacy of extracts of latex of Calotropis procera against different mediators of inflammation |journal=Mediators of Inflammation |volume=2005 |issue=4 |pages=228–232 |doi=10.1155/MI.2005.228}}</ref>

<ref name="Patil2015">{{cite journal |last1=Patil |first1=R. A. |last2=Makwana |first2=A. B. |year=2015 |title=Anti-hyperbilirubinemic and wound healing activity of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera leaves in Wistar rats |journal=Indian Journal of Pharmacology |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=398–402 |doi=10.4103/0253-7613.161262}}</ref>

<ref name="Rasool2024">{{cite journal |last1=Rasool |first1=S. |last2=Rashid |first2=A. |last3=Akram |first3=M. |last4=Sierra |first4=F. G. |year=2024 |title=In vitro pharmacological evaluation of methanolic leaf extract of Calotropis procera for antifungal and anti-breast cancer activities |journal=Toxicology Research |volume=13 |issue=6 |pages=tfae186 |doi=10.1093/toxres/tfae186}}</ref>

<ref name="Rajkovic2023">{{cite journal |last1=Rajkovic |first1=J. |last2=Novakovic |first2=R. |last3=Grujic-Milanovic |first3=J. |last4=Ydyrys |first4=A. |last5=Ablaikhanova |first5=N. |last6=Calina |first6=D. |last7=Sharifi-Rad |first7=J. |last8=Al-Omari |first8=B. |year=2023 |title=An updated pharmacological insight into calotropin as a potential therapeutic agent in cancer |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |volume=14 |pages=1160616 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2023.1160616}}</ref>

}}

[[Category:Database of herbs and minerals| Herbs]]

Talk:Arka - Revision history