Calotropis (Calotropis procera): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does Calotropis procera work medicinally?

Calotropis procera contains cardenolides, including calotropin, calactin, and calotoxin, which are cardiac glycosides that affect cellular membrane transport. These compounds inhibit sodium-potassium ATPase, similar to digoxin, which may explain both therapeutic and toxic effects. The latex and leaf extracts demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory studies. Evidence level C indicates limited clinical data. Traditional applications for wound healing and skin conditions likely relate to these bioactive compounds, though the exact mechanisms require further research.

Does Calotropis procera interact with heart medications?

Calotropis procera contains cardenolides that function similarly to cardiac glycosides like digoxin, creating significant interaction risks with heart medications. Concurrent use with other cardiac glycosides, diuretics, or antiarrhythmic drugs may potentiate toxicity and cause dangerous heart rhythm disturbances. The plant compounds can accumulate and affect potassium levels, potentially worsening interactions with potassium-depleting diuretics. Due to these serious interaction risks and the plant's inherent toxicity, internal use is contraindicated. Patients on cardiovascular medications should avoid Calotropis entirely.

What is the correct dosage for Calotropis procera topical use?

Calotropis procera should only be used topically, as internal ingestion is highly toxic and potentially fatal. For traditional wound and skin applications, the latex must be significantly diluted before application to prevent severe skin irritation and tissue damage. There is no standardized clinical dosage due to insufficient evidence (level C). Traditional practitioners use minimal amounts of diluted preparations. Undiluted latex application is contraindicated. Given the narrow therapeutic window and lack of standardization, professional guidance is essential before any topical use.

Is Calotropis procera safe to use during pregnancy?

Calotropis procera is unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The cardenolides present, including calotropin and calotoxin, can cross the placental barrier and may cause uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage or fetal harm. Traditional contraindications explicitly warn against use by pregnant women. The plant's toxic compounds pose serious risks to both maternal and fetal health, with no established safe threshold. Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding should avoid all forms of Calotropis procera, including topical applications.

Can Calotropis procera be taken internally for medicinal purposes?

Internal use of Calotropis procera is strongly contraindicated due to its high toxicity. The plant contains potent cardenolides that can cause severe poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, and potentially fatal cardiac arrest. Traditional antiparasitic uses employed extremely low doses under expert supervision, but this carries significant risk. Evidence level C reflects insufficient safety data for internal use. The narrow margin between therapeutic and lethal doses makes internal administration dangerous. Only carefully prepared topical applications are considered relatively safer options.

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Calotropis procera (Sodom apple) is an evergreen perennial shrub of the Apocynaceae family found in arid and semi-arid regions, utilized for medicinal, industrial, and ecological purposes [PMID:34220914, PMID:38883127].

Contexte

Calotropis procera is a multipurpose, drought-adapted plant known as the apple of sodom, calotrope, or giant milkweed [PMID:34220914, PMID:41666213]. It is characterized by its ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses and is found across North Africa, Middle East Asia, and South-East Asia [PMID:34220914].

Usages traditionnels

The plant is used in traditional medicinal systems for treating snake bites, body pain, asthma, epilepsy, cancer, sexual disorders, skin diseases, gastric disorders, and inflammatory processes [PMID:35492791, PMID:37282633].

Composés actifs

Identified phytochemicals include cardenolides, steroid glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phenols, lignans, terpenes, coumarins, phenolic acids, $\beta$-amyrin, and $\beta$-sitosterol [PMID:37282633, PMID:38883127, PMID:35844368, PMID:30414421].

Mécanisme d'action

C. procera leaf extract inhibits prostate cancer cells by regulating autophagy [PMID:38400579]. Flower extracts have been shown to downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1$\beta$ in LPS-stimulated human white blood cells [PMID:41651889].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve DInflammation and Pain

Ethanolic extract of flowers reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling by 37% and fever in rats by 40% [PMID:3259655].

Preuve DUlcerative Colitis

Polar extracts (200-400 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent anti-ulcerative colitis potential in rats, with protection rates of 63.8% to 78.4%, exceeding the standard drug Prednisolone [PMID:29379336].

Preuve DProstate Cancer

Hydroalcoholic leaf extract (CPE) affects viability, division, and migration of androgen-independent PC-3 and androgen-sensitive 22Rv1 cells [PMID:38400579].

Preuve DConvulsions

High doses (50 or 100mg/kg) of latex proteins significantly increased latencies to convulsions and death in PTZ-induced mouse models [PMID:22227595].

Preuve DBacterial Infections

Flower extracts significantly inhibited the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria [PMID:3259655].

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Accidental inoculation of C. procera latex in the eye can cause ocular toxicity, including painless dimness of vision, photophobia, conjunctival congestion, corneal edema, iridocyclitis, and secondary glaucoma [PMID:19384022]. Soluble laticifer proteins (SLPs) have been investigated for cytogenotoxic potential [PMID:36844567].

Synthèse des preuves

The current evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies, animal models (rats/mice), and case reports. There are no human clinical trials or meta-analyses provided; therefore, the overall strength of clinical evidence is low (Level D).

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 36844907 (2022) — Traits plasticity of Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera) along the environmental gradient in the semi-arid environment. · Frontiers in plant science
2.PMID: 40939149 (2025) — 19-Nor-cardenolides From Calotropis gigantea. · Chemistry & biodiversity
3.PMID: 34220914 (2021) — An Overview of the Characteristics and Potential of Calotropis procera From Botanical, Ecological, and Economic Perspectives. · Frontiers in plant science
4.PMID: 38958855 (2024) — Green-synthesized CuO and ZnO nanoparticles derived from Calotropis gigantea (Apple of Sodom): enhancing plant growth, efficient dye removal, and potent antibacterial applications. · Environmental science and pollution research international
5.PMID: 3259655 (1988) — Ethnopharmacology of Calotropis procera flowers.

Calotropis

Sources et citations

Calculer une dose sûre de Calotropis