View source for Calotropis gigantea - Arka plant

[[File:"Calotropis flower".JPG|thumb|right|'' Sadapushpa'', ''Mandara'', ''Calotropis flower'']]

'''Calotropis procera Ait''' is a large shrub growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall. It has clusters of waxy flowers that are either white or lavender in color. The plant has oval, light green leaves and milky stem. The latex of Calotropis gigantea contains cardiac glycosides, fatty acids, and calcium oxalate. Arka consists of dried roots of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. (Fam.Asclepiadaceae) found wild more or less throughout India.

==Uses==
{{Uses|Rheumatism}}, {{Uses|painful joints}}, {{Uses|Skin blemishes}}, {{Uses|Leucoderma}}, {{Uses|vitiligo}}, {{Uses|Piles}}, {{Uses|Pain in ears}}<ref name="Uses"/>

==Parts Used==
{{Parts Used|Root}}, {{Parts Used|Bark}}, {{Parts Used|Flowers}}, {{Parts Used|Leaf}}, {{Parts Used|Latex}}.

==Chemical Composition==
The milky sap contains a complex mix of chemicals, some of which are steroidal heart poisons known as "cardiac aglycones". These belong to the same chemical family as similar chemicals found in foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea). The steroidal component includes an hydroxyl group in the C3β position, a second attached to the C14 carbon, a C/D-cis ring junction and an α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone in the C17 position. In the plants, the steroidal component is commonly attached via a glycosidic link to a 2-desoxy or a 2,6-didesoxy sugar molecule

==Common names==
{{Common names|sa=Bhaanu, Ravi, Tapana, Arka|en=Aakado|gu=Aakado|hi=Aak, Akavana, Madar|kn=Ekka, Ekkadagida, Ekkegida|ks=Vasa|ml=Erikku|mr=Rui|pa=Ak|ta=Erukku, Vellerukku|te=Jilledu}}

==Properties==
Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.
===Dravya===

===Rasa===
Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)
===Guna===
Laghu (Light), Sara, Snigdha
===Veerya===
Ushna (Hot)
===Vipaka===
Katu (Pungent)
===Karma===
Vatahara, Kaphahara, Bhedana, [[Deepana]], Kshamighna

===Prabhava===

==Habit==
{{Habit|Large shrub}}

==Identification==
===Leaf===
{{Leaf|milky white sap|large, relatively thick (5-30 cm long and 4-15 cm wide)|The leaves greyish-green in colour and have entire margins}}.<ref name="Leaf"/>

===Flower===
{{Flower|borne in clusters|15-25 mm across|white or pinkish|five| Flowering occurs mostly during winter.}}

===Fruit===
{{Fruit|large|6-12 cm long and 3-7 cm wide||These fruit have thick and spongy skins which split open at maturity|numerous brown, flattened seeds}}

===Other features===

==List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used==
* [[Vishatinduka Taila]] as ''root juice extract''

==Where to get the saplings==
==Mode of Propagation==
{{Propagation|Seeds}}, {{Propagation|Cuttings}},  {{Propagation|Layering}}.

==How to plant/cultivate==
Succeeds in the drier tropics. Most commonly found in areas of the tropics with a specific dry season, at elevations up to 1,000 metres<ref name="How to plant/cultivate"/>

==Commonly seen growing in areas==
{{Commonly seen|trophical}}, {{Commonly seen|indian subcontinent}}.

==Photo Gallery==
<gallery class="left" caption="" widths="140px" heights="140px">
File:ThoraThora1.JPG|''[[Calotropis procera]]''
File:Starr 010701-9001 Calotropis procera.jpg|''Calotropis procera'' fruit
File:Calotropis procera.jpg| ''Calotropis procera''
File:Adrar-Calotropis procera (1).JPG|''Calotropis procera''
File:Algodon de seda (Calotropis procera) 3.jpg|''Calotropis procera''
File:Calotropis giganteaRHu3.JPG|''[[Calotropis gigantea]]''
File:C. gigantea.JPG|''Calotropis gigantea''
File:Starr 070730-7945 Calotropis gigantea.jpg|Floral tassels made from ''Calotropis'' flowers.
File:Starr_010503-9002_Calotropis_procera.jpg 
</gallery>

==References==

<references> 
<ref name="Leaf">[https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/calotropis_procera.htm "queenland govt"]</ref>
<ref name="How to plant/cultivate">[http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Calotropis+gigantea "Cultivation Details"]</ref>
<ref name="Uses">[https://www.bimbima.com/herbs/medicinal-uses-of-madar-or-arka/688/ "Medicinal uses of Madar"]</ref>
</references>

==External Links==
* [http://nif.org.in/CALOTROPIS-PROCERA Calotropis procera Ait on national innovation foundation=]
* [https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.upwta.1_478 calotropis procera Ait on global plants]
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876921/ Pharmacognostic standardization of leaves of Calotropis procera (Ait.)] 
* [http://www.science20.com/humboldt_fellow_and_science/blog/calotropis_procera_ait_rbr_arka_important_drug_ayurveda CALOTROPIS PROCERA (Ait.) R.Br. Arka, an important drug of Ayurveda]
[[Category: Ayurvedic Pharmacopedia of India]] 
[[Category:Herbs]]