Arka Pushpa
Calotropis procera
Arka Pushpa (Calotropis procera) is a plant drug, from the Apocynaceae family. Flavonoids and triterpenoids in flowers have moderate oral bioavailability. The flower is traditionally considered the mildest part of Arka and is used for digestive (Deepana) and respiratory applications.
| Botanical name | Calotropis procera |
|---|---|
| Identity source | Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. I: ARKA (Root) |
| Also called | Calotropis gigantea (attribution recorded without a cited source) Calotropis gigantea indexed under its own Sanskrit name, Alarka (attribution recorded without a cited source) |
| Family | Apocynaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Also known as | Arka Pushpa, ArkaPushpa |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5414566 · Wikidata Q948690 · NCBI Taxonomy 141467 |
| Tamil | வெள்ளெருக்கு |
|---|
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Vol I, ARKA (Root) and ARKA (Leaf), Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br., Tamil: Vellerukku, Erukku. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2008 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 5Other clinical studies and reviews
- 7Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Arka Pushpa |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (flower powder), Swarasa (flower juice), Ghrita (flower-processed ghee), Tablet, Capsule
Standard Dosage: 1-3g flower powder twice daily; 5-10ml flower juice with ghee; as component in formulations per classical texts
Optimal Timing: Before meals with ghee for digestive stimulation; morning for respiratory conditions
Storage: Airtight containers, cool and dry place. Ghrita in glass containers at room temperature or refrigerated for longer storage.
Marker Compounds: Calotropin (at lower levels than other plant parts), Quercetin, Isorhamnetin, Kaempferol, Alpha-amyrin acetate, Uvaol
Synergistic Combinations
- With ghee for Deepana (digestive fire stimulation)
- With Sunthi for cough and respiratory support
- With Haridra for mild anti-inflammatory action
- With Jaggery for cough formulations (classical)
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews5
- 2025. Geophytochemical and ethnopharmacological insights into Calotropis procera: bridging traditional knowledge and modern therapeuticsNatural product research. PMID 40899328 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2025.2552209
- 2025. Cysteine Peptidases of Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae): A Literature Review on their Biochemical Properties and Potential ApplicationsCurrent protein & peptide science. PMID 39722486 · doi:10.2174/0113892037340497241024095749
- 2024. Calotropis procera and the Pharmacological Properties of Its Aqueous Leaf Extract: A ReviewCureus. PMID 38883127 · doi:10.7759/cureus.60354
- 2021. A review on phytochemical constituents and pharmacological potential of Calotropis proceraRSC advances. PMID 35492791 · doi:10.1039/d1ra06703f
- 2021. An Overview of the Characteristics and Potential of Calotropis procera From Botanical, Ecological, and Economic PerspectivesFrontiers in plant science. PMID 34220914 · doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.690806
Laboratory and animal studies7
- 2024. Calotropis procera extract inhibits prostate cancer through regulation of autophagyJournal of cellular and molecular medicine. PMID 38400579 · doi:10.1111/jcmm.18050
- 2023. Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand (Apocynaceae): State of the art of its uses and ApplicationsCurrent topics in medicinal chemistry. PMID 37282633 · doi:10.2174/1568026623666230606162556
- 2023. Calotropis procera accumulates Uzarigenin and Calotropagenin in response to environmental lighting and droughtSaudi journal of biological sciences. PMID 36950364 · doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103622
- 2023. Potential anticancer properties of calotropis procera: An investigation on breast and colon cancer cellsHeliyon. PMID 37332907 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16706
- 2022. Calotropis Procera Induced Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis and Impaired Akt/mTOR Signaling in 4T1 Breast Cancer CellsAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry. PMID 35676853 · doi:10.2174/1871520622666220608122154
- 2022. Purification, Partial Characterization, and Evaluation of the Antiulcer Activity of Calotropis procera Leaf LectinProtein and peptide letters. PMID 35927810 · doi:10.2174/0929866529666220803162457
- 2008. Acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice: effects of some medicinal plants on the oxidative defense systemExperimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie. PMID 18054472 · doi:10.1016/j.etp.2007.10.003
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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