ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF UPAVISHA ARKA: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Cancer is one amongst the dreadful diseases of present century. The incidence of cancer is increasing worldwide. Every year about 8,00,000 new cancer patients get registered with the national cancer registry program in India. Ayurveda an ancient Indian medicine science describes many useful herbal drugs for such types of advanced diseases. Upavisha the plant poisons of low potency are mentioned in Agadtantra. Arka (Calotropis procera/ Calotropis gigantea) is one among these Upavisha is emerging as an effective anticancer drug. It shows various pharmacological activities such as Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antiimplantation etc. Different parts of Arka are used to treat cancer. In current scenario number of synthetic anticancer drugs are used to treat cancer. These synthetic anticancer drugs are expensive and shows harmful adverse effects. Upavisha like Arka which is natural derivative may be cost effective & less harmful as Anticancer drug. Anticancer activity of Calotropis procera/Calotropis gigantea is reported in scientific journals. This review summarizes various In Vitro and In Vivo studies of anticancer activity of Upavisha Arka.