Latin name: Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. F. (Asclepiadaceae)
Sanskrit/Indian name: Arka, Alarka, Ak, Akada
Urdu Name : Aak, Madar
General information :
The leaves of Dead Sea Apple were used for sun worship in Vedic times. Researchers at The Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), have studied the herb for its antidiarrheal properties. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the use of the root and leaf in asthma and shortness of breath. The stem bark is prescribed in liver and spleen diseases.
Therapeutic constituents :
Mudarine, found in the leaves of the plant, is the principal active constituent. A powerful antibacterial enzyme has also been identified in the latex.
Key therapeutic benefits :
- The herb stimulates digestion and stops diarrhea.
- It is also effective in treating respiratory disorders.
- Dead Sea Apple is used in the treatment of an enlarged spleen and liver.
