NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA BOMBOM

1.1 Introduction

Medicinal plants provide a major cultural and biological weight to humanity. They serve as food source, flavoring spices, means of remediation, energy source and national income (Abdel et al., 2011). The use of medicinal plants in drug manufacture has become a global trend in the last two decades (UNESCO, 1998). Farnsworth and Soejarto; Schippmann, et al. (2002) have estimated the plants used medicinally worldwide of more than 53000 species. The plant family Asclepiadaceae includes more than 2,000 species classified under 280 genera are distributed worldwide in the tropical and sub-tropical regions (Pankaj, 2003). As a family member, Calotropis procera has captured the attention since on one hand, it has a great value as a medicinal plant with notable importance in folk medicine (Boulos) (Boulos, 1999), its cardiac glycoside content and the ability to act as a pesticide (Shahi et al., 2010). On the other hand, researches have discussed its potential to be source of renewable energy and hydrocarbon (Barbosa et al., 2014).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on publications on pharmacopoeias and medicinal plants in 91 countries, the number of medicinal plants is nearly 21,000. Nearly 6-7 thousand species of medicinal plants out of about 17-18 thousand flowering plants are known to be in use in folla and officially recognized systems of medicine in India i.e. Ayurbeda, Sidha, Unani and Homeopathy.

India has a rich heritage of knowledge on plant based, drugs both for use in preventive and curative medicine. From ancient civilization the various parts of different plants were used to eliminate pain, control suffering and counteract diseases. Plants generally produce many secondary metabolites which constitute an important source of microbicides, pesticides and many pharmaceutical drugs. It has also been widely observed and accepted that the medicinal value of plants lies in the bioactive phytocomponents present in the plants (Veeramuthu et al; 2006, Khan and Khan, 2008, Ghosh et al; 2008, Mandal et al; 2010, Abubakar et al; 2011). Much work has been done on ethnomedicinal plant in india (Nair 2005; Rout et al; 2009, Madhuri Sharma and Pandey Govind, 2009). Medicinal plants represent a rich source of antimicrobial agents (Kannan et al; 2007); Jeeshna et al; Jarrar et al; 2010, Johnson et al; 2010, Koochak et al; 2010). Because of the side effects and the resistance that pathogenic microorganisms build against antibiotics, many scientists have recently paid attention to extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from plant species used in herbal medicine (Mst Nazma Yesmin et al; 2008).

Calotropis procera linn. (Family Asclepiadeceae) is a shrub or small tree up to 2.5 m height. All parts of the plant exude while latex when cut or broken. It is known by various names like swallow wort, dead sea apple, Sodom apple or milk weed, commonly used and known as Arka or madar. Telugu name is Jilledachetta and in English Catotrope, Calotropis, Deadsea fruit, desert wick, giant milk weed, muder fibre, rubber bush, rubber tree, Sodom apple, swallow, wort. In the traditional Indian medicinal system, it has been used for pain, asthma, bronchitis and dyspepsia, leprosy, Ulcers, tumors, piles, spleen, liver and abdomen. The root bark in the form of paste with rice vinegar is applied to elephantiasis of the legs and scrotum. The plant is also known for its toxic properties that include iridocyclitis, dermatitis and acts like a poison and produces lethal effects. Compounds derived from the plant have been found to have emeto, cathartic and digitalic properties. Antimicrobial activity of C. procera was previously screened by (Kareem et al; 2008; Verahalarao Vadlapudi et al; 2004). In the leaves, mudarine is the principal active constituent as well as a bitter yellow acid, resin and 3 toxic glycosides calotropin, Uscharin and Calotoxin. The latex contains a powerful bacteriological enzyme, a very toxic glycosides calactin (the concentration of which is increased following insect or grasshopper attack as defense mechanism), Catatropin D1, Calotropin DII, Calotropin F1, Calotropin F11, and a non toxic protealytic enzyme calotropin (2 % to 3 %). This calotropin is more proteolytic than papain and bromelain coagulates milk and digest meat, gelatin and casein. The whole plant contains a b-amyrin, teraxasterol, gigcintin, giganteol, isogiganteol, b-sitosterol and a wax.

Centella asiatica (Family Mackinlayaceae) common name include Gotukola, Asiatic pennywort, Indian Pennywort, Luei Gong Gen, Takip, Kohol, Antanan, Pegagan, Pegaga Vallaarai leula kud, Baibua bok and Brahmi. In India, famous as “Brahm”, it is used for improving the mental ability as was carried out at Dr. A Laleshmipathy research center (now under CCRAS) VHS, Adyar, Chennai (Appa Rao et al; 1973). Anti bacterial activity of C. asiatica was previously screened by (Rohimi Kiran Kunta et al; 2004).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Nutritional and Economic Importance of Calotropis Procera BomBom.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation reveals that Calotropis procera populations in Egypt are highly polymorphic which indicates highly divers genetic pool that can hardly be threatened, furthermore, molecular studies suggested that there is a correlation between the edaphic conditions of a population and the nature of its metabolites since they differed in different soils (Schremmer, 1972). Further study of this feature can be beneficial in identifying which population to be targeted in medicinal industries and which in hydrocarbon synthesis. The use of C. procera for medicinal purposes and as animal feed (e.g., goats) should be viewed with extreme caution due to the presence of several trace elements in its leaves. Although the toxic cardenolides can be neutralized with the drying of the leaves (Melo et al., 2001), the presence of trace elements can be a problem for the consumption of the meat from ani- mals fed with its leaves.

Regardless to its allelopathic effect to some crops, Calotropis procera has several ecologic roles, its ability to accumulate several elements from different soils serves as natural phytoremediation (Krämer, 2010), can possibly improve the quality of soil and hence rehabilitating abandoned and exhausted lands.

In an overpopulating developing country such as Egypt, having C. procera is a bless, it is famous for its various medicinal and phytochemical properties along with hydrocarbon content that can be used as an alternative clean source of energy, it also can be used as a safe pesticide and rodent control without leaving harmful chemical traces. Calotropis procera presents such a rich natural resource that must be utilized industrially, it provides ecofriendly solutions to our pollution, energy limitation and habitat degradation problems.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the present study is to investigate in vitro antimicrobial activity of Indian medicinal plants Calotrophs procera and Calotrophs Asatica linn against the resistant pathogens. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify the economic importance of Calotropis procera Bombom,
2. To assess the nutritional importance of Calotropis procera Bombom,
3. To investigate in vitro anti microbial activity of aerial parts of Calotropis procera and Centella asatica Linn., that have been popularly used as folk medicines,
4. To assess the Calotropis procera (Aiton) population in Nigeria, discussing its distribution, population dynamics and dispersal behavior with respect to its potential economic importance.

1.5 Significance of Study

The significant dispersal of Calotropis procera, along with its high adaptability to severe environments, has driven researchers to consider its invading abilities, it even suffers widespread cutting in several regions as an invasion control strategy (Vitelli et al., 2008). However, the numerous benefits and outcomes from using the plant in industrial and therapeutic aspects could possibly overcome the invasion concerns. In Egypt, even though being widespread, C. procera populations didn’t exhibit invasive behavior yet.

Calotropis procera is beneficial on many levels, as on one hand it is known traditionally, in folk medicine to have purgative and anthelimintic properties and used in treating leprosy, ulcers, tumors and piles as well as purgative, anticoagulant, and anticancer, moreover, the plant’s latex has been known for cardiac glycoside content and contains compounds with pesticide properties, while on the other hand, its biomass proved a tendency to be a good source of renewable energy and hydrocarbon.

Finally, Calotropis procera populations have an immense ecologic role being habitat for several organisms, displaying phytoremedy properties in contaminated soils and its ability to rehabilitate deserted land bringing back life once again.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the Nutritional and Economic Importance of Calotropis Procera BomBom.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).