Anticancer Potential of <i>Calotropis procera</i> : A Contemporary Update Review

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. is an herbal remedy that has been known for various traditional uses. Its diverse content of biologically potent compounds includes tannins, flavonoids, steroids, cardenolides, alkaloids, terpenoids, and enzymes. The rich composition has prompted extensive research on the antitumor properties against an array of malignant cell lines. The research outcomes reveal a promising potential in different cell lines. Multiple components of the shrub, including stems, roots, leaves, flowers, and aerial parts, showed anticancer properties against sarcoma 180, human colon cancer in both types HCT-8 and HCT-116, breast MDA-MB-435, breast MCF-7, brain SF-295, human leukemia HL-60, and ovarian OVCAR-8 malignant cell lines. Several anticancer compounds are present in the shrub, including calotoxin, calotropin, uscharin, calactoprocin, proceraside A, methyl ferulate, and frugoside. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed marked cytotoxicity, in some cases comparable with the effect of standard anticancer drugs. Despite the claimed anticancer activity of the shrub, the toxicity of its extracts includes salivation, stomatitis, emesis, diarrhea, mydriasis, tetanic convulsions, collapse, and in some cases death. Therefore, thorough research to examine the toxic effects of the shrub and its extracts on humans is an essential step to guarantee that it is safe for humans and facilitate the process to develop anticancer drugs based on this important medicinal shrub. Moreover, the novel topic of nanoparticles derived from Calotropis procera is emerging with promising results and should be explored for use as anticancer drugs or as drug-delivery agents.