Effect of seasonal and lunar cycle variability on phytoconstituents of <em>Calotropis Procera</em> (Ait.) R. Br. Aerial parts

Abstract

Calotropis procera is wild, evergreen plant belongs to Asclepiadaceae family and used in an Indian traditional system of medicine since ancient times. C. procera employed the drug bestowed with R. asaviryadi (Therapeutic principle and potency) quality must be collected to achieve good therapeutic results. Therefore, advocate the collection practice and seasonality that may affect qualitatively and quantitatively to the drug. This is because moonlight is stronger than sunlight. The study aims at seasonal and lunar based aerial parts collection, extraction and quantitative phytochemical analysis. This study found a significant shift in the production of bioactive metabolites during the lunar cycle (full moon and new moon). Results revealed maximum carbohydrate and protein content were found in leaves and floral at PSFM respectively. Flavanoid (76.89±1.02 mg g-1) and phenolics (84.41±1.09 mg g-1) values were higher in leaves at PWFM and PWNM while tannin and cardiac glycoside (80.67±1.44 mg g-1) attained maximum content at PRFM and PSFM in buds respectively. The study of lunar and seasonal based variations of C. procera phytoconstituents emphasize that effective and concentrated drugs can be extracted during the full moon to treat various diseases globally including local people with a minimum exploitation rate.