Evaluation of major secondary metabolic groups in Calotropis procera extracts growing in Libya

Calotropis procera is a multipurpose plant that can be utilized for medicine, fodder, and fuel purposes, as well as phytoremediation and synthesis of nanoparticles. It has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems across North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Asia. In this study, the phytochemical profile of Calotropis procera, dried and growing in Libya, was explored. Phytochemical screening tests were performed to detect the presence of a number of phytoconstituents, namely: tannins, flavonoids, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids, glycosides, coumarins, alkaloids, phytosterols, cardiac glycosides, and carbohydrates. Extraction was carried out by maceration of the dried aerial parts, flowers, leaves, and fruits using solvents of increasing polarity: Hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol. The findings showed that almost all extracts contained varying concentrations of all phytoconstituents under investigation. Steroids and carbohydrates were observed in all extracts, mostly concentrated in the dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the leaves, which explains the plant's primary metabolism, structural requirements, and survival adaptations to arid conditions. Alternatively, the abundant presence of these specific metabolites supports the medicinal use of Calotropis procera as an anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and cardiovascular support. Further studies are required to evaluate the efficiency of various other solvents and identify the exact compounds in the metabolic groups that can be responsible for its therapeutic effect, since new synthetic drugs are being formulated by using these secondary metabolites as a prototype.