Abstract
Calotropis procerawas evaluated as a potential source of hydrocarbons. Hexane Soxhlet extractions of oven-dried whole plants, stems, leaves and pods (≧6mo of age) yielded 4.35, 3.83, 5.13, and 9.37% (w/w) hexane extract (HE), respectively. The HE from whole plants has a density of 0.9299 glcm3, 0.71% total ash, 9973.4 callg and 78.03, 11.22 and 10.71% carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, respectively. Similar values were obtained from stems, leaves and pods when analyzed separately. Methanol Soxhlet extractions of residues previously extracted with hexane yielded 16.14, 18.50, 12.15 and 20.68% (w/w) methanol extract (ME) from whole plants, stems, leaves and pods, respectively. The ME from whole-plant residues had a density of 1.2267 glcm3, 12.05% total ash, 4,647.4 callg, and 40.88, 6.86, and 30.05% carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, respectively. Similar values were obtained from stems, leaves and pods when analyzed separately.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Ahmed, S. R., and J. P. Agnihotri. 1977. Antifungal activity of some plant extracts. Indian J. Mycol. Plant Pathol. 7: 180–181.
Anonymous. 1966. Oxygen bomb calorimetry and combustion methods. Technical manual no. 153. Parr Instrument Co., Moline, IL.
Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1975. Official methods of analysis, 12th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC.
Baumeister, T., ed. 1966. Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers. Ed. 7, pp. 7–22. McGrawHill, New York.
Biedner, B., L. Rothkoff, and A. Witztum. 1977.Calotropis procera (sodom apple) latex keratoconjunctivitis. Israel J. Med. Sci. 13: 914–916.
Bolz, R. E., and G. L. Tuve, eds. 1970. Handbook of Tables for Applied Engineering Science, p. 308. Chemical Rubber, Cleveland, OH.
Buchanan, R. A., I. M. Cull, F. H. Otey, and C. R. Russell. 1978a. Hydrocarbon- and rubberproducing crops. Evaluation of U.S. plant species. Econ. Bot. 32: 131–145.
—. 1978b. Hydrocarbon-and rubber-producing crops. Evaluation of 100 U.S. plant species. Econ. Bot. 32: 146–153.
Calvin, M. 1977. Hydrocarbons via photosynthesis. Energy Research 1: 299–327.
—. 1979. Petroleum plantations.In Solar Energy: Chemical Conversion and Storage. Hautala, R. R., R. B. King, and C. Kutal, eds., pp. 1–30. Humana Press, Clifton, NJ.
—. 1980. Hydrocarbons from plants: analytical methods and observations. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. LBL-10912, Univ. California, Berkeley, CA.
Canella, C. F. C., C. H. Tokarnia, and J. Döbereiner. 1966. Experimentos com plantas tidas como toxicas realizados em bovinos no nordeste do Brasil, com resultados negativos. Pesq. Agropec. Bras. 1: 345–352.
Chevalier, A. 1946. Les arbres a kapok et les autres producteurs de soies végétales. Rev. Int. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop. 26: 517–524.
Gaertner, E. E. 1979. The history and use of milkweed(Asclepias syriaca L.). Econ. Bot. 33: 119–123.
Garg, A. 1979. Effect of AkCalotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. flower extract on testicular function of the Indian desert male gerbilMeriones hurrianae Jerdon: a biochemical and histological study. Indian J. Exp. Biol. 17: 859–862.
Karschon, R. 1970. Contributions to the arboreal flora of Israel:Calotropis procera (Willd.) R. Br. La-Yaaran 20: 1–6, 41–48.
—, and L. Pinchas. 1969. Leaf surface temperatures inCalotropis procera (Willd.) R. Br. Leafl. Div. Forest. Volcani Inst. Agric. Res., Ilanot 34: 1–8.
Khurana, S. M. P., and S. Singh. 1972. Studies onCalotropis procera latex as inhibitor of tobacco mosaic virus. Phytopathol. Z. 73: 341–346.
Little, E. L., Jr., R. O. Woodbury, and F. H. Wadsworth. 1974. Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Vol. 2, Agriculture Handbook 449, U.S.D.A., Washington, DC.
Ma, T. S., and R. C. Rittner. 1979. Modern Organic Elemental Analysis, pp. 51–58. Marcel Dekker, New York.
Mahmoud, O. M., S. E. I. Adam, and G. Tartour. 1979. The effects ofCalotropis procera on small ruminants. I. Effects of feeding sheep with the plant. J. Comp. Pathol. 89: 241–250.
—. 1979. The effects ofCalotropis procera on small ruminants. II. Effects of administration of the latex to sheep and goats. J. Comp. Pathol. 89: 251–263.
Nemethy, E. K., J. W. Otvos, and M. Calvin. 1979. Analysis of extractables from oneEuphorbia. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 56: 957–960.
Nielsen, P. E., H. Nishimura, J. W. Otvos, and M. Calvin. 1977. Plant crops as a source of fuel and hydrocarbon-like materials. Science 198: 942–944.
Saxena, S. K., and S. Singh. 1976. Some observations on the sand dunes and vegetation of Bikaner district in western Rajasthan. Ann. Arid Zone 15: 313–322.
Sharma, G. K. 1934.Calotropis procera andCalotropis gigantea. Indian J. Veterin. Sci. Anim. Husb. 4: 63–74.
Shukla, O. P., and C. R. Murti. 1961. Bacteriolytic activity of plant latices. J. Sci. Industr. Res. 20: 225–226.
Unterzaucher, J. 1940. Microanalytical determination of oxygen. Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges. 33: 391–404.
Watt, J. M., and N. G. Breyer-Brandwijk. 1962. Medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa. 2nd ed. Livingstone, Edinburgh.
Weisz, P. B., and J. F. Marshall. 1979. High-grade fuels from biomass farming: potentials and constraints. Science 26: 24–29.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Erdman, M.D., Erdman, B.A. Calotropis procera as a source of plant hydrocarbons. Econ Bot 35, 467–472 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858597
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858597