Sodomís apple milkweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Apple of Sodom
• Liberty Tree
• Sprain Leaf
• French-cotton
• Prince-of-Wales crown
• Sodom's-milkweed
• Sodom-apple
• apple-of-Sodom
• auricula-tree
• cabbagetree
• camelweed
• giant-milkweed
• kapoktree
• rubberbush
• rubbertree
• small crownflower
• swallowwort
• Seto / Gedla Akonda
• Tongue-Tongue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calotropis syriaca
• Calotropis inflexa
• Apocynum syriacum
• Calotropis wallichii
• Asclepias procera
• Asclepias patula
• Madorius procerus
• Calotropis gigantea var. procera
• Calotropis hamiltonii
• Calotropis persica
• Calotropis procera subsp. hamiltonii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianaales, it is situated in the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Calotropis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several countries located within the Northern Africa region. It can be found growing naturally in the landscapes of Algeria. Additionally, the species is well-established throughout the territory of Egypt. Its presence extends further west to include the nation of Libya. Finally, this medicinal plant is also commonly documented in both Morocco and Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Calotropis procera is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 2720 m AMSL. It thrives in a variety of distinct ecosystems, demonstrating a broad ecological niche that includes anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strict sensu), the tropical savanna of the Cerrado (lato sensu), and the coastal vegetation known as Restinga. This ability to inhabit both disturbed human-influenced landscapes and specialized natural biomes across a wide altitudinal gradient highlights its resilient nature and capacity to colonize varied topographical and climatic settings.

Elevational range max:

2720 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Calotropis procera is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural adaptation that supports its growth habit. Specifically, it functions as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, maintaining a woody or semi-woody stature that enables it to endure various environmental conditions throughout its extended lifespan.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Calotropis procera is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting, independent plant. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a minimum height of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 4 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Calotropis procera is characterized by specific morphological and metabolic adaptations suited for its environmental niche. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. Its foliage is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with individual leaves exhibiting an ovate form. These leaves can reach significant dimensions, with a maximum leaf length of 25 cm and a maximum leaf width of 22 cm. To manage water retention and survive in arid conditions, the plant exhibits succulence. Additionally, Calotropis procera does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf width max:

22 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Calotropis procera is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. The plant produces inflorescences in the form of an umbel, featuring flowers that exhibit a distinct violet colour. The flowering period typically begins in January and concludes in July, though it can be variable. Reproduction is dependent on cross-pollination, as self-fertilization is absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit classified as a follicle, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. The seeds produced within these follicles vary in mass, with a mean weight of 0.010136 g, a minimum of 0.002812 g, and a maximum of 0.023237 g. Once mature, the seeds are distributed via an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing wind to spread throughout the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length min:

8 cm

Fruit type :

follicle

Inflorescence :

umbel

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.023237 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010136 g

Seed mass min:

0.002812 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Calotropis procera has 6 reported plant parts identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem, fruit.

Leaf

1. Dakar medical
2. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
3. Heliyon
4. Scientific reports
5. Journal of Cancer

Flower

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Heliyon
2. Fitoterapia
3. Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Fundamental & clinical pharmacology

Stem

1. Scientific reports
2. Microbial cell factories
3. Fitoterapia
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Dakar medical

Fruit

1. Scientific reports

Seed

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Calotropis procera has 96 reported phytochemicals identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Cardenolides.

Flavonoids

1. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
4. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
5. Research in veterinary science

Tannins

1. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine
5. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Saponins

1. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
4. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
5. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Glycosides

1. Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine
2. Heliyon
3. Research in veterinary science
4. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Cardenolides

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
3. Journal of plant research
4. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Scientific reports
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Pharmaceutical biology

Phenols

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
3. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
4. Natural product research

CALOTROPIN

1. Natural product research
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Journal of plant research

Coumarins

1. Heliyon
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

STIGMASTEROL

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Calotropis procera has 24 reported activities identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Analgesic.

Anticancer

1. Scientific reports
2. Natural product research
3. World journal of gastroenterology
4. Microbial cell factories
5. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Antioxidant

1. Scientific reports
2. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
3. Open veterinary journal
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biocell : official journal of the Sociedades Latinoamericanas de Microscopia Electronica ... et. al

Antibacterial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of Cancer
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Toxicology research
5. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product research
2. Microbial cell factories
3. Open veterinary journal
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Heliyon

Analgesic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Natural product research
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Heliyon
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Heliyon
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
2. Veterinary parasitology

Antifungal

1. Toxicology research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of Cancer
2. World journal of gastroenterology

Medicinal Uses

Calotropis procera has 90 reported medicinal uses identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, inflammation, Escherichia coli, analgesic, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations