HERBS AND SPICES

Facts about Apple of Sodom

By SYLVIA — February 27, 2018

Apple of Sodom Quick Facts

Name: Apple of Sodom
Scientific
Calotropis procera
Name:
North Africa, Tropical Africa,
Origin Western Asia, South Asia, and
Indochina
Inflated, sub-globose, ellipsoid or
Shapes
ovoid, recurved follicle, 7.5-10.0 cm.
Taste Bitter, salty, Astringent
Cure of leprosy and elephantiasis,
asthma and catarrh, treats
Health
whooping cough, dysentery,
benefits
headache, lice treatment, jaundice,
sore gums and mouth

Calotropis procera commonly known as Apple

of Sodom is a species of flowering plant in the
Milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae that is native
to West Africa as far south as Angola, North
and East Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian
Peninsula, southern Asia, and Indochina to
Malaysia. The species is now naturalized in
Australia, many Pacific islands, Mexico, Central
and South America, and the Caribbean islands.
Other common names of the herb include
Sodom apple, stabragh, kapok tree, king’s
crown, rubber bush, or rubber tree,
Calotropis, auricula tree, cabbage tree,
calotrope, camel tree, Dead Sea fruit,
desert wick, French cotton, giant
milkweed, Indian milkweed, mudar fiber,
mudar plant, rooster tree, Sodom’s
milkweed and swallow-wort. Genus name
comes from the Greek words kalos meaning
beautiful and tropos meaning boat in reference
to the flowers. Specific epithet from Latin
means tall. Sodom’s apple milkweed exudes a
milky white sap (latex) when the plant is cut or
broken, which although toxic is widely used in
many traditional medicines.
Plant Description

Apple of Sodom is an erect, flowering shrub or

small tree that grows about 2-5 m (max. 6) tall
that is found growing in beachfront dunes,
roadsides, watercourses, disturbed urban
areas as well as on semi-arid conditions on
deep, sandy soils, rubbish heaps, cultivated
and fallow land and waste places. The plant
grows well on the sandy calcareous soils of
coastal areas. Giant milkweed has a very deep,
stout taproot with few or no near-surface
lateral roots. Giant milkweed roots were found
to have few branches and reach depths of 1.7
to 3.0 m in Indian sandy desert soils. Stem is
round, usually simple (rarely branched), pale
green, thickly covered with hoary pubescence
which readily rubs off. The bark is corky,
furrowed, and light gray. It appears in irregular
short pieces, slightly quilled or curved and
about 0.3 – 0.5 cm thick. The external portion
is grayish-yellow, soft and spongy. The
internal portion is yellowish-white. The
fracture is short. A copious white sap flows
whenever stems or leaves are cut.

Leaves

Opposite leaves are oblong obovate to nearly

orbicular, short-pointed to blunt at the apex
and have very short petioles below a nearly
clasping, heart-shaped base. The leaf blades
are light to dark green with nearly white veins.
They are 7 to 18 cm long and 5 to 13 cm
broad, slightly leathery, and have a fine coat of
soft hairs that rub off.

Flower & Fruit

The fragrant flowers are 2.5 cm in diameter

and form umbel-like flower clusters. The erect
petals are whitish and have purple spots on
the upper half. The bracts of the corolla are
smooth or downy with a divided tip.  Fruit is
inflated, sub-globose, ellipsoid or ovoid,
recurved follicle 7.5 to 10 cm long by 5 to 7.5
cm wide that split and invert when mature to
release light-brown, broadly ovate, flattened,
3.2 cm with a tuft of white hairs at one end.  A
white milky sap is exuded from any wound on
the plant.

Apple of Sodom Image Gallery

Apple-of- Apple-of- Closer-view-

Sodom--Plant Sodom--Plant- of-flower-of-
growing-wild Apple-of-
Sodom

Dehisced- Dried-Flower- Flower-&-

seedpod- of-Apple-of- Fruit-of-
releasing- Sodom Apple-of-
seeds Sodom

Flower-of- Fruit-and- Fruit-

Apple-of- seeds-of- displaying-
Sodom Apple-of- seed-in-
Sodom Apple-of-
Sodom-plant

Fruits-of- Leaves-of- Plant-

Apple-of- Apple-of- Illustration-of-
Sodom Sodom Apple-of-
Sodom

Plant-Sketch- Seeds-of- Sodom-Apple-

of-Apple-of- Apple-of- on-the-plant
Sodom Sodom

Traditional uses and benefits of Apple of

Sodom

Roots are poisonous and used for treating

snakebites.
Latex is used against ringworm and as
laxative.
An infusion of bark powder is used in the
treatment and cure of leprosy and
elephantiasis.
Extremely poisonous roots are used in the
treatment of snakebites.
Leaves are used for the treatment of
asthma.
Milky sap is used as a rubefacient and is
also strongly purgative and caustic.
Latex is used for treating ringworm, guinea
worm blisters, scorpion stings, venereal
sores and ophthalmic disorders.
Its use in India in the treatment of skin
diseases has caused severe bullous
dermatitis leading sometimes to
hypertrophic scars.
Local effect of the latex on the conjunctiva
is congestion, epiphora and local
anesthesia.
Flower is used in the treatment of asthma
and catarrh.
Twigs are applied for the preparation of
diuretics, stomach tonic and anti-
diarrhoetics and for asthma.
It is also used in abortion, as an
anthelmintic, for colic, cough, whooping
cough, dysentery, headache, lice treatment,
jaundice, sore gums and mouth, toothache,
sterility, swellings and ulcers.
Latex of the plant is processed and used in
the treatment of paralysis, vertigo, swelling
in the joints, baldness, rheumatoid
problems, hair loss issues, intermittent
fever and tooth aches.
Powdered root used in asthma, bronchitis,
and dyspepsia.
Root bark is also used for cure elephantiasis
in south India.
Juice is taken by women that work as an
abortifacient to induce abortion.
Powdered leaves are used for the fast
healing of wounds.
Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the use of the root and leaf of
this plant in Asthma and shortness of
breath.
Stem bark is recommended in liver and
spleen diseases.
Hot poultice are made from the leaves and
applied to the joints to relieve pain and
inflammation in arthritis and other joint
disorders.
Calotropis root bark and flowers used in
cough and asthma and effective in treating
respiratory disorders.
Researches have shown that Ark has the
potential to be used as anticancer,
anticoagulant and anti-fungal agent.
Leaves of Arka with salt are used as very
effective herbal combinations for gastritis.
Juice squeezed from fresh leaves is used to
treat bite wounds in rural areas (dog bites,
scorpion Ascites: Apply the latex of Sodom
stings etc.)
Mixture of its latex, turmeric and sesame oil
is useful in treating scabies.

How to use -Calotropis proce…

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Apple of

Sodom

Ascites: Apply the latex of Sodom locally

on the affected areas.
Leprosy: Use the latex of Sodom plant on
the affected skin.
Leucoderma: Apply the latex of Sodom on
the skin patches.
Ringworms: Apply the milky fluid of Sodom
plant over infected skin.
Stings: Locally apply the milk fluid of
Sodom plant on the damaged skin.
Deafness: Take a ripe yellow leaf of Sodom.
Warm it. Squeeze the leaf juice drops in
ears. Use it for 2 weeks.
Caries: Apply the latex of Sodom on the
affected teeth.
Gastroenteritis: Roast the leaves of Sodom
and apply locally.
Swelling: Apply the roasted leaves of
Sodom over the affected area.
Headache: Warm the leaves of Sodom. Tie
it with cotton cloth on the forehead.
Antidote: Chew the leaves of Sodom once
a day. OR Crush roots of Sodom and apply
it over bitten area.
Fever: Mix equal quantity leaf juice of
Sodom with honey. Take 1 tsp of it
repeatedly after 1 hour.
Aphthous Ulcers: Add 1 tsp honey in same
quantity latex of Sodom. Apply it over
affected areas.
Ascaris: Consume mixture of Sodom leaf
juice and honey twice a day.
Dental Diseases: Externally apply latex of
Sodom plant over dental problems.
Analgesic: Apply latex of Sodom over
painful areas.
Tumor: Consume 3 ml root extract of
Sodom. Have it once a day.
Diabetes: Consume 1 g dry latex of Sodom
twice a week.
Liver diseases: Take some leaves and
flowers of Sodom. Make its decoction. Have
10 ml of it twice a day.
Abscess: Mix the latex of Sodom with
turmeric powder to make a paste. Apply it
over the affected areas.
Abscess: Soak few carom seeds in the
latex of Sodom overnight. Roast the soaked
seeds over flame. Grind them to make a fine
powder. Mix 1 tsp of the powder with
yogurt. Apply it on the damaged skin.
Acne: Mix some carom seeds with the milky
sap of Sodom. Leave it overnight. Roast the
soaked seeds and grind them. Mix 1 tsp of
the powder with yogurt. Apply it on the
affected areas.
Asthma: Take equal amount of Sodom
flowers, cloves and black pepper. Grind
them together. Mix a pinch of this mixture
with Luke warm water. Drink this water once
a day. (Do not use in excess as it may cause
diarrhea and vomiting.)
Bronchitis: Grind the root bark of Sodom.
Mix it with date palm sugar. Take a pinch of
it during bedtime with warm milk. (Excess
use may cause Diarrhea.)
Cold: Mix date palm sugar with Sodom root
bark powder. Take 2 pinch of it with warm
milk at night.
Cough: Take root bark of Sodom. Grind it to
make powder. Add date palm sugar in it.
Take quarter tsp of the mixture with warm
milk during bedtime. Use it once a day.
Fatigue: Take mixture of date palm sugar
and Sodom root bark powder during bed
time. (Excess use may cause vomiting.)
Insect bites: Make a mixture of Sodom root
bark powder and date palm sugar by taking
them in equal ratio. Take ¼ tsp with warm
milk at night. Use it for 4 days.
Leprosy: Take root bark powder of Sodom.
Add same quantity of date pam sugar in it.
Take a pinch of it with warm milk after
dinner. (Do not use repeatedly as it may
cause diarrhea.)
Cholera: Grind the root and bark of Sodom
to make a fine powder. Add some ginger
juice and black pepper. Mix properly to
make a thick paste. Make pea sized pills of
it. Make a decoction of Cardamom and mint
leaves. Take 1 pill with the decoction after
every 2 hours. Use it for 5 days.
Cold: Take boiled rice in a cup. Add 5 ml
Sodom latex. Put it under sun to dry for 1
week. Repeat the whole process by adding
15 ml latex. Grind to make a powder. Add
some camphor powder in it. Use it as snuff.
Cough: Add 1 tsp milky sap of Sodom in 1
cup boiled rice. Dry it under sun for 7 days.
Now again add 3 tsp latex in it and dry
again. Grind to make powder. Add camphor
powder in it and use as snuff.
Colic: Take 4 g of Sodom flower, black salt
and carom seeds. Add 8 g dried ginger in it.
Grind them to make powder. Make a thick
paste by adding lime juice in it. Make small
pills of equal size with it. Take 1 pill per day
with warm water.
Stomach ache: Grind 1 tsp of Sodom
flower, black salt, carom seeds and 2 tsp of
dried ginger to make powder. Make dough
like consistency by adding lime juice in it.
Make pills of it. Have one pill per day with
warm water.
Earache: Extract the juice of ripe yellow
leaves of Sodom. Take quarter tsp of it and
add same amount of sesame oil. Now add
quarter tsp of sweet flag powder, cinnamon,
garlic and 2 tsp of Asafoetida powder. Boil
the mixture until it gets thick. Filter it
through a piece of cloth. Cool it and use as
ear drops.
Ear Discharge: Mix 3 grams each of
Sodom leaves juice, sesame oil, powder of
Sweet flag, Cinnamon and garlic. Add 12 g
Asafoetida powder in it. Boil until it gets
thick. Filter through a piece of cloth. Cool it
and use as an ear drops.
Headache: Take 500 ml of sesame oil. Add
two tbsp of Sodom flower juice, turmeric
powder, garlic paste, black pepper powder
each. Boil over a low flame till it thickens.
Cool it and put it in a bottle. Take 3-4 tbsp
of oil and massage the scalp with it. Use it
thrice a week.
Asthma: Take equal amount of Emetic nut,
Sodom root, Licorice. Grind them together.
Have 2 pinches once a day with water.
Cold: Take emetic nuts, liquorice, Sodom in
equal amount. Powder them together. Have
one pinch once a day. It gives relief in cold
conditions.
Bronchitis: Mix dried Sodom flowers, black
pepper and clove in 4:2:1 ratio. Grind them
to make a powder. Consume 3 g of it with
lukewarm water.
Earache: Take 125 gm. juice of Datura
Stramonium leaves and same amount of
sesame oil. Mix well. Boil in a tin vessel for 5
to 10 minutes on medium flame till the juice
remains half. Add 5-6 leaves of Sodom and
a pinch of salt in it. Boil till it gets a thick
consistency. Strain and let it cool. Put 2 to 3
drops of this solution in the affected areas
twice a day.
Asthma: Take Ziziphus Xylopyrus roots,
Sodom stem bark, Erythroxylum
monogynum stem bark, Indian Kino stem
bark and 10 dry Cayenne peppers. Grind
them all to make a fine powder. Consume
quarter tsp of each of the herb powder for 3
days with 1 liter of water once a day.

Culinary Uses

Flower shoots are eaten young and raw.

Leaves are occasionally eaten.
Leaves are used for making an alcoholic
drink.
Sap is added to milk to help it coagulate in
Ethiopia.
Leaves have been used as a soup
ingredient in sauces.

Other facts

Seed capsules, on the other hand, are used

as stuffing material in mattresses.
Stems are further produce good charcoal
and are termite resistant.
Mudar Gummi, a rubber material, is also
obtained from Auricula tree.
Plant can help improve soil water conditions
and also acts as a soil binder.
White, silky, strong, cylindrical, flexible and
durable stem fiber used for various
purposes, such as for making ropes, to
form cheap cots, gunny bags, bow strings,
fishing nets, and in the manufacture of
paper, pulp and duplicating stencils.
Strong inner bark fibers produce a binding
material and are processed into fabrics.
The floss from the seeds, which is about 2
– 3.5 cm long, white silky and strong, is
used as an inferior stuffing for mattresses
and pillows as well as for weaving into a
strong cloth.
Floss may also substitute cotton wool for
surgical purposes.
Plant is the source of a rubber-like product
called Mudar Gummi.
Liquid latex can be used as a renewable
source of hydrocarbons and intermediate
energy resources.
Leafy branches are said to deter ants.
Macerated bark extract can be used for
dyes.
Stems are termite proof and are used for
roofing and building huts.
Very light wood can also be used for fishing
net floats.
Wood is a source of charcoal, used for
making gunpowder.
Stems produce a good charcoal, while the
stem pith makes good tinder.
Plant is occasionally grown as an
ornamental in dry or coastal areas because
it is handsome, of a convenient size, and is
easy to propagate and manage.
Sheep, goats, and camels will eat the leaves
of giant milkweed during droughts, but
consumption is low.
If the leaves are chopped and mixed with
other feed, consumption greatly increases
with no ill effects.
Fermented mixture of Calotropis and salt is
used to remove the hair from goat skins for
production of “nari leather” and of sheep
skins to make leather which is much used
for inexpensive book-binding.
Apple of Sodom produces approximately
300 berries per plant with 50 seeds per
berry resulting in 1,500 seeds per plant.
Latex has been used as a hunting poison
and fish poison, and sometimes used for
criminal purposes, often in combination
with Strophanthus spp.
Decoction of the bark or the latex or the ash
from the stem is used in veterinary
medicine for treating parasitic skin diseases
and scabies in cattle, camels and goats.
Stem bark is considered to stimulate
lactation in cattle.
Nectar of the flowers is considered toxic,
and gives honey a bad taste. Beekeepers
therefore often cut the plants nearby hives.

Precautions

Juice of the plant is poisonous it has been

used as an infanticide in Africa.
Both the bark and the latex are widely used
as arrow and spear poisons.
Latex is cardio toxic with the active
ingredient being calotropin.
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or
allergic reaction.
Consult a doctor before using.
Avoid use during pregnancy and breast
feeding.
Latex is toxic and can cause rash, blisters
and serious inflammations in sensitive
persons and it may lead to blindness.
Ingesting larger doses of latex produce
toxic symptoms like burning in the throat,
irritation of the stomach, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, tremors, vertigo and convulsions.
Very high dosages may cause death.
It should not be given to small children.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?
search_topic=TSN&search_value=30332#null

https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32070/

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/calotropis_procera.htm

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?
LatinName=Calotropis+procera

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-
2693668
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-
2693668

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/16848

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?
taxonid=276915&isprofile=0&

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/calotr09.html

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?
symbol=CAPR

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calotropis_procera

http://uses.plantnet-
project.org/en/Calotropis_procera_(PROTA)

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