Ethnobotanical and medicinal uses of Calotropis procera based on digital documentation
Tracks
Tully 2
| Monday, July 27, 2026 |
| 4:15 PM - 4:30 PM |
Speaker
Ms Mah Noor
Research Scholar
Department of Plant Sciences Quaid-i-azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
Ethnobotanical and medicinal uses of Calotropis procera based on digital documentation
ISE Congress 2026 Abstract
Ethnobotanical and medicinal uses of Calotropis procera based on digital documentation
Mah Noor1, Shujaul Mulk Khan1,2*, Abdullah3,4
1Department of Plant Sciences Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
2Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
3CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
4Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Abstract
Current global climate change is affecting significant environmental shifts, constrained by expanded human movement in natural ecosystems. Among affected species, Calotropis procera, a versatile shrub known as Apple of Sodom and Giant milkweed from the Asclepiadaceae family, has been conventionally relied upon by rural and arid communities for medicinal and cultural purposes, handling everything from skin infections to digestive and respiratory issues. This study documents and supports these traditional uses through field surveys and digital ethnobotanical resources. Fieldwork was conducted at 20 different sites from July to September 2024, including interviews with residents to gather traditional knowledge about Calotropis procera and its medicinal treatments. The latex, leaves, and roots of Calotropis procera are commonly used for wound healing, joint pain, cough, and digestive problems, with reported uses aligning closely with established ethnobotanical records. The whole results recommend that Calotropis procera plays a fundamental role in regional traditional medicine. The species is accompanied by an inclusive scale of ethnomedicinal practices, showing its rich traditional heritage and medicinal potential. The digital credentials show their significance in rural health care systems and provide a foundation for the spread of scientific research on their bioactive compounds.
Keywords: Calotropis procera, Ethnobotany, Traditional uses, Digital documentation
Mah Noor1, Shujaul Mulk Khan1,2*, Abdullah3,4
1Department of Plant Sciences Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
2Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
3CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
4Germplasm Bank of Wild Species & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Abstract
Current global climate change is affecting significant environmental shifts, constrained by expanded human movement in natural ecosystems. Among affected species, Calotropis procera, a versatile shrub known as Apple of Sodom and Giant milkweed from the Asclepiadaceae family, has been conventionally relied upon by rural and arid communities for medicinal and cultural purposes, handling everything from skin infections to digestive and respiratory issues. This study documents and supports these traditional uses through field surveys and digital ethnobotanical resources. Fieldwork was conducted at 20 different sites from July to September 2024, including interviews with residents to gather traditional knowledge about Calotropis procera and its medicinal treatments. The latex, leaves, and roots of Calotropis procera are commonly used for wound healing, joint pain, cough, and digestive problems, with reported uses aligning closely with established ethnobotanical records. The whole results recommend that Calotropis procera plays a fundamental role in regional traditional medicine. The species is accompanied by an inclusive scale of ethnomedicinal practices, showing its rich traditional heritage and medicinal potential. The digital credentials show their significance in rural health care systems and provide a foundation for the spread of scientific research on their bioactive compounds.
Keywords: Calotropis procera, Ethnobotany, Traditional uses, Digital documentation
Biography
I am Mahnoor, an M.Phil. scholar in the 4th semester at the Plant Ecology and Conservation Lab, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. My research focuses on the ecological assessment and species distribution modelling of Calotropis procera. I am passionate about plant ecology, biodiversity conservation, and understanding how climate change influences vegetation dynamics and ecosystem sustainability.
