AN ANTITOXIC REVIEW OF ARK (CALOTROPIS PROCERA LINN) AS VISHGHNA DRAVYA IN AYURVED AND FOLK MEDICINES

Medicines in the form of herbs share a major constituent worldwide over synthetic medicines. Calotropis which is mentioned as Arka in Ayurveda is categorized as Upvisha (Mild poison) in Agadtantra. Even being in group of toxins itself, Arka shows medicinal properties as texted in botanical books of Ayurveda and Nighantus. It is mentioned as Vishaghna (antitoxic) in therapautical literature in Ayurvedic samhitas. Calotropis comes under Apocynacoeae family and Asclepiadaceae as subfamily which is widely used in folk practices as a remedy in snake bite, insect bites and scorpion bite. Used in the form of Lepa, Pana, Abhyang, Anjana it has a wide range of properties like anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-helminthic, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective etc. This review article emphasizes on information reported on use of Ark as an antitoxin in Ayurved and folk culture. This may promote research of herbal medicines in all aspects for well-being of human.