Arka
Calotropis procera
Arka (Calotropis procera) is a plant used in Ayurveda. INTERNAL USE: only Shodhita (purified) material under physician supervision. Bioavailability: Cardiac glycosides (calotropin, calactin) have good oral absorption with narrow therapeutic index. Shodhana with Dugdha (milk processing) modifies glycoside profile and reduces acute toxicity.
| 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) |
| Family | Apocynaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5414566 · Wikidata Q948690 · NCBI Taxonomy 141467 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Arka |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (root bark powder — after Shodhana), Kshira (processed latex), Taila (medicated oil — external), Lepa (paste — external), Pushpa preparations (flower)
Standard Dosage: 250mg-1g Shodhita root bark powder; external oil/paste as needed. INTERNAL USE: only Shodhita (purified) material under physician supervision.
Bioavailability: Cardiac glycosides (calotropin, calactin) have good oral absorption with narrow therapeutic index. Shodhana with Dugdha (milk processing) modifies glycoside profile and reduces acute toxicity. Latex contains proteolytic enzymes (calotropain) that are absorbed transdermally. Uscharin shows rapid onset of cardiac activity — caution required for precise dosing.
Optimal Timing: As directed by Ayurvedic physician only. External applications: morning and evening to affected area.
Standardized Extract: Shodhita root bark extract with total cardenolide content precisely quantified (typical range 0.1-0.5%). Flower extract (non-toxic part) for milder formulations. Latex-based preparations for external pharmaceutical use.
Shelf Life: 2 years (Shodhita powder); 3 years (medicated oil); 18 months (Shodhita latex preparation)
Storage: Clearly labeled CAUTION: RESTRICTED SUBSTANCE. Store separately from general inventory. Cool, dry place. Latex preparations in glass containers.
Marker Compounds: Calotropin, Calactin, Calotoxin, Uscharin, Calotropagenin, Alpha-amyrin, Beta-amyrin, Mudarin, Giganticine
Extraction Methods
- Latex collection and Shodhana (purification with cow’s milk — 7 cycles)
- Root bark Shodhana (boiling in Kanji/fermented rice water)
- Sesame oil infusion for Taila preparation (external use)
- Hydroalcoholic extraction of Shodhita material (research only)
Synergistic Combinations
- With Sunthi for Arka Kshira preparations (internal, classical)
- With Nirgundi and Eranda for joint disorder external applications
- With Haridra for wound healing (external lepa)
- Arka Pushpa (flowers) with ghee for digestive fire stimulation
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