Regional and Irrigation-Induced Variations in Secondary Metabolites of Calotropis procera Flowers in Different Agro-Climatic Zones of Rajasthan

Abstract

Calotropis procera, a species of family Asclepiadaceae is known in traditional system of medicine from centuries due to its property of curing a number of ailments. It is a xerophytic shrub found in tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It’s flower is useful in anorexia, indigestion and intestinal worm infestation, dysentry, abdominal disorders etc. It is used in many Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha formulations. Hence investigation on the regional and irrigation-induced variations in secondary metabolites of Calotropis procera flowers across diverse agro-climatic zones in Rajasthan, India, was taken up to find best region for their collection. The study shows that ACZ IIIA has the highest petroleum ether extract content and ACZ V displays elevated methanol extract yields. Within ACZ IB, involving Hanumangarh and Suratgarh, contrasting results in petroleum ether extract and methanol extract yields are observed, with petroleum ether extract higher in the irrigated area and methanol higher in the non-irrigated region. ACZ V demonstrates the maximum total extractive yield, while ACZ IB shows minimum values. Flowers from the irrigated area in Hanumangarh (ACZ IB) exhibit lower values for sterols and alkaloids compared to those from Suratgarh, the non-irrigated region, indicating a complex interplay of environmental factors. The observed variations provide insights into the environmental influences on secondary metabolite content of Calotropis procera flowers, contributing to a deeper understanding from ecological and agricultural perspectives.