Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Calotropis gigantea and Aerva lanata: A Review

Calotropis giganteabelongs to the Asclepiadaceae family is commonly known as Arka and Ruvi and it is found throughout India. The Aerva lanata plant is a member of Amaranthaceae family and its usually known as mountain knot grass and gorakhabooti and their role in disease cure has been documented. Different part of these plants contains numerous types of chemical constituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, quercetin, kaempferol, sterols, cynogenic glycoside, with diverse pharmacological activities. Moreover, these plants show, anti-microbial activity, analgesic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-diuretic and anti-diabetic activities. Hence this review representsan overview of medicinal uses of Calotropis gigantea and Aerva lanata plant which is used in many formulations.