J Ethnopharmacol. 1988 Feb-Mar; 22(2): 211-21.

Ethnopharmacology of Calotropis procera flowers.

Mascolo N, Sharma R, Jain SC, Capasso F.

Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples.

An ethanolic extract of the flowers of Calotropis procera was investigated for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial activities. The plant extract reduced the paw swelling induced by carrageenan by 37%, fever in rats by 40% and showed some weak effect in rats on the writhing induced by acetic acid. The growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was significantly inhibited. A dose-dependent effect on prostaglandin release was also observed.