Chemistry, Biological Activities, and Uses of Calotropis Latex

Anifat Adenike Bankole, Thies Thiemann

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The traditional and current use of the latex of Calotropis procera and C. gigantea, two soft-wooded, xerophytic shrubs of the family Apocynaceae, are reviewed against the background of the plants’ chemical constituents and their biological activities. Due to their distinctive latex components, Calotropis plants have been considered a major resource in traditional medicine in many regions. The presence of high amounts of bioactive compounds, which include tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and steroids in the latex of the Calotropis plants, has long been recognized. Peptides and proteins such as peroxidases, peptidases, protease inhibitors, osmotins, lysozymes, and chitinases are all well-studied enzymes associated with the defense system of Calotropis plants against herbivores and diseases. The chemistry and biological activities of the Calotropis plants are thought to be linked to external factors, including the geographic location and the developmental stage of the plant, the season of harvest as well as the storage of the harvested plant, which can lead to a considerable variation in the chemical constituents found.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationReference Series in Phytochemistry
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages769-799
Number of pages31
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Publication series

NameReference Series in Phytochemistry
ISSN (Print)2511-834X
ISSN (Electronic)2511-8358

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial activity
  • Antiprotozoal property
  • Antitumor activity
  • Calotropis gigantea
  • Calotropis procera
  • Cardenolide
  • Insecticide
  • Lignan
  • Protein

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Plant Science
  • Organic Chemistry

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