Lipolytic effect of Calotropis prcera in the skin of wistar rats

Abstract

Histopathological studies of skin samples from Wistar rats treated once daily for four weeks with 20mg/gm body weight of the fresh leaf extract of Calotropis procera by the oral route showed significant degeneration of adipose tissue in the hypodermis and partial degeneration of the dermis at the site of merging with the hypodermis. No significant histological changes were, however, observed in the stratified squamous epithelium of the epidermis. Hair follicles and sebaceous glands were not affected. It was concluded from these observations that the subcutaneous layer was the one mainly affected by the treatment with the leaf extract.