Calotropis gigantea

Botanical

What is it

Calotropis gigantea (giant milkweed, arka) is a shrub native to South Asia. Its milky latex, root, bark and flowers are used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine, but the plant contains cardiac glycosides and is toxic at significant doses.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Traditional uses (Ayurvedic)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional uses for asthma, skin conditions, parasites; risk of toxicity outweighs casual use.

How it works

Calotropis latex and parts contain cardiac glycosides (calotropin, calotoxin) chemically similar to digoxin, along with terpenoids and flavonoids. The cardiac glycosides act on Na/K-ATPase, producing strong cardiovascular effects similar to digitalis - including cardiotoxicity at modest doses. The latex is intensely irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Traditional Ayurvedic use is typically through carefully detoxified (shodhana) preparations and is monitored by practitioners. Self-use of unprocessed material is dangerous.

Dosage

No safe dose for self-use. Traditional Ayurvedic use involves processed material in small amounts under specialist supervision.

When and how to take it

Not recommended for self-use.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Processed (shodhana) preparations

Used in classical Ayurvedic formulas under supervision.

Variable; specialist preparation needed.

Safety

Significant: cardiotoxicity (arrhythmia, heart failure), severe gastrointestinal irritation, mucous membrane damage, dermatitis, eye injury from latex contact. Death has been reported from ingestion.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, cardiac disease, and without specialist Ayurvedic supervision.

Interactions

Significant interactions with cardiac medications (especially digoxin, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers). Avoid combining.

Frequently asked questions

Is Calotropis safe?⌄

No, unprocessed material is toxic. Cardiac glycosides can cause life-threatening effects.

Why is it in Ayurvedic medicine?⌄

Traditional formulas use carefully processed and detoxified preparations under expert supervision.

References

Calotropis gigantea on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Calotropis gigantea on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Calotropis gigantea (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.