Vernacular names
Hindi- Safed musli, Sufed or Safeta musli, Sataver, Satavar, Hazarmuli,
Satmuli. Guj.- Ujlimusli, Sufed or Safeta musli, Sataver, Dholi musali. Mal.-
Shedeveli. Mar.- Safed musli, Sufed or Safeta Musli, Sataver, Satavar, Kuli.
Tam.- Tannirvittang, Tannirvittan-Kizhangu, Vipurutti. Tel.- Tsallogadda.
Arab.- Shaqaqule-hindi, Sinhalese.- Hirtha-wariya, Mushali. Garhwal -
Jhirna. Bom.- Sapheta musali, Sufed musli, Sataver. U.P.- Khairuwa
(Chopra et al., 2002; Nadkarni, 1976; Anonymous, 1976; Anonymous, 1992;
Kirtikar and Basu, 1989; Naik, 1998; Sharma, 1978).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Perennial herbs, upto 30 cm in height, roots fibrous, cylindric with a cluster
of ellipsoid whitish fleshy tubers hanging from them. Leaves simple, 6-12,
membranous, sessile, 15-30 X 1.2-2.5 cm, acuminate, margin undulate. Scape
terete, 8-10 cm long, and naked. Flowers regular, bisexual, white in 5-10 cm
long, simple or shortly branched racemes. Capsules obovoid, shining
transversely veined, emarginate, cells 4-6 seeded. Seeds irregularly orbicular,
about 0.3 cm in diam. and black. Flowering and Fruiting : June - September
(Cooke, 1967; Anonymous, 1996; Bole and Pathak, 1988; Gamble, 1967;
Hooker, 1973).
Chlorophytum tuberosum is the official source plant as per the Ayurvedic Formulary of
India. In the Ayurvedic literature cited, Asparagus adscendens has been mentioned as the source plant of safed musli. Synonyms, many of the vernacular names, Ayurvedic properties, actions, uses, formulation and preparations belongs to the plant Asparagus adscendens only. C. borivillianum is being cultivated on large scale in many parts of the county and used as
safed musli.
409
SWETA MUSLI Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker.
410
DISTRIBUTION
Found wild in E. Himalaya, Bihar, W. Bengal, and Western Peninsula in all
districts upto 1500 m. Also occurs in Burma and Abyssinia (Cooke, 1967;
Gamble, 1967).
PART(S) USED
Tuberous root (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).
ACTIONS AND USES
The tuberous roots are beneficial as demulcent and tonic, and they are
reported to be useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and general debility (Nadkarni,
1976).
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES Rasa - Madhura.
Guna - Guru, Snigdha.
Vipaka - Madhura.
Veerya - Sheeta.
Doshaghnata - Vatapitta shamaka, Kaphavardhaka (Sharma, 1978; B.N.,
1982).
Karma - Shukrala, Mootrala, Balya, Brinhana, Rasayana (Sharma, 1978;
B.N., 1982).
Rogaghnata - It is consider as most beneficial in Shukrakshaya and Klaibya.
Also used in Mootrakrichchhra, Prameha, Daurbalya, Krishata (Sharma,
1978; B.N., 1982).
Doses : 3-6 gm. powder (Sharma, 1978; B.N., 1982).
SIDDHA PROPERTIES
Siddha Name - Thanneervittaan kizhangu
Suvai (Taste) - Inippu (Sweet).
Veeriyam (Potency) - Seetham (Cold).
Vibakam (Tansformation) - Inippu (Sweet).
Gunam (Pharmacological action) - Kulirchi undaakki (Refrigerant),
Siruneer perukki (Diuretic), Boshanakari (Nutritive), Udal uramaakki
(Tonic), Ul azhal atrri (Demulcent), Paal perukki (Galactagogue) , Aanmai
perukki (Aphrodisiac), Isivakatri (Antispasmodic).
Siddha pharmaceutical preparations - Thanneer vittaan nei,
Chukku thylam, Gandhaga rasayanam, Naasiroga naasi thylam.
Uses: Used in treatment Diabetes, Leucorrhoea, Boils.
411
PHARMACOGNOSY
Macroscopic
Tuberous root - Dried unpeeled roots ellipsoidal with attached slender fibrous stalk; 0.5-1.5 X 0.2 - 0.3 cm in size; outer surface more or less rough;
texture slightly hard to spongy and light in weight; fracture quite brittle,
fractured surface powdery with radial cavities; colour pale brown externally,
whitish internally; odourless; taste somewhat sweetish.
Microscopic
Transverse section of root shows outermost 2-3 layers of more or less collapsed cells bearing abundant elongated unicellular hairs followed by
single layer of tangentially elongated rectangular thick-walled cells. Cortex
parenchymatous, outermost 2-4 layers of tangentially flattened cells followed
by 3-4 roundish cells followed by wide multilayers of radially compactly
arranged polygonal cells containing granular material, scattered raphides;
inner most 2-3 layers composed of roundish parenchymatous cells;
endodermis single layered; pericycle 1-2 layered; vascular elements radially
arranged, phloem composed of usual cells, vessels bearing reticulate, annular
and few scalariform thickening. Pith reduced at the centre and composed of
mostly isodiametric larger and smaller diametered cells containing granular
material, raphides of calcium oxalate abundant, as seen mostly in longitudinal
sections in peripheral cortex and pith parenchyma (Gurav et al., 2005).
Physical constants
Ash value 13.22%, Acid insoluble ash - 7.32%, Alcohol soluble extractive 4.2%, Water soluble extractive - 4.6% (Gurav et al., 2005).
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Plant: Sugar, starch, proteins, vitamin-C, saponins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, viz: alanine, proline, leucine, valine and glutamic acid
(Narsimhan et al., 2006). A glucoside - arjunetin, arjunone, cerasidin, b-
sitosterol, friedlin, methyl oleanolate, gallic, ellagic and arjunic acids
(http://www.bssmworld.com/herbal_health/chlorophytum_borivillanum.htm).
In another aspect C. borivillianum is considered to have same or similar
bioactives as found in C. arundinaceum reported as: spirosta-steroidal
saponins comprising diosgenin, tigogenin, neotigogenin and sarsasapogenin
as the major genin components and mono-, di- and oligosaccharides,
comprising glucose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and xylose as glycosidic
components, phenolic dibenzyls, spirosta-steroidal glycoalkaloids comprising
mainly solasodine and tomatidine as the alkaloidal aglycones (Shibnath
Ghosal, 2006).
412
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Plant was reported to have antioxidant activity in various models. IC50 values
of plant extact was reported to be 225.31, 888.44, 809.22 and 422.97 mg/ml
for scavenging of DPPH, nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation and ferry bi-pyridyl
complex, respectively (Narasimhan et al., 2006).
THERAPEUTIC EVALUATION
Anti-obesity, anti-haemolytic activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by saponin rich fraction was reported by Shibnath Ghosal (2006).
FORMULATIONS AND PREPARATIONS
Asava and Arista - Ashvagandhadyrista
Avaleha and Paka - Satavari guda
Vati and Gutika - Surana vataka
Churna - Musali churna (Anonymous. 1978, 2000).
TRADE AND COMMERCE
Finding its use in many Ayurvedic, Allopathic and Unani medicine, this
wonder herb has a total estimated market demand of approximate 35,000
tonnes. Presently production is not even 5% of the estimated demand. Safed
musli is an important ingredient of more than a hundred Ayurvedic,
Allopathic, Homoeopathic and Unani medicinal preparations. As a protein
rich food supplement, there is a tremendously growing international demand
for processed safed musli. There is a huge demand for this drug in the
middle East, Europe, Japan and USA (Tripathi, 2003).
Retail market price - Rs. 200-800 per kg (Prajapati, 2006).
SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERANTS
Chlorophytum arundinaceum Baker, C. laxum R. Br., C. borivillianum Sant. and Fernand., Asparagus adscendens Linn., Pachystoma senile Reichb. F.,
Cynotis tuberosa roots are used as substitute. Roots of Asparagus racemosus
Willd are often used as an adulterant (Anonymous, 2000a; Sharma, 1978;
Kirtikar and Basu, 1989; Chadha and Gupta, 1995; Anonymous, 1992;
Agarwal, 1997; Aundhe and Deokule, 2001).
PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION
Plants is cultivated for their roots, prefer irrigated, well drained, loamy to sandy loam soils rich in organic manure, and warm to humid conditions for
growth. Propagation is by direct sowing of seeds in seed beds supplemented
with FYM or leaf litter. Plants are harvested with fleshy roots in middle of
413
May. Land supplemented with 10-15 tones of FYM /ha along with 1-2
weeding cum hoeing gives a good yield. Crop matures within 90 days
(Chadha and Gupta, 1995). An average yield of roots per hectare is estimated
to be 1000 kg fresh and 200 kg dried (Anonymous, 2002).
Seed germination studies were reported by Dalal et al., 1987 and the method
of propagation by seeds as well as by roots (tubers) was standardized by
Shrivastava et al., 2000.
In vitro micropropagation of safed musli was done by using stem discs. The
sprouts can be obtained from stem discs under in vitro conditions. In a short
period of time a large number of propagules can be produced through this
method. In vitro propagation of C. borivillianum a source plant of Sweta
musli, was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 22.2 µM BA.
Cultures were initiated from stem discs possessing shoot buds and young
shoot bases obtained from field grown plants. Maximum shoot formation
was observed on MS supplemented with 22.2 µM BA and subculturing was
carried out after every 21 days to acheive 4-fold rate of multiplication.
Maximum number of root formation was observed on 3/4 strength MS
medium containing 9.8 µM IBA (Purohit et al., 1994).
In vitro propagation of Chlorophytum borivillianum was also achieved
through zygotic embryo culture by Purohit et al., 1994.
REFERENCES
Agarwal VS (1997), Drug Plants of India, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi; vol. 1. p. 270-
271.
Anonymous (1976), Medicinal Plants of India, Indian Council of Medicinal Research, New
Delhi. vol. 1. p. 101.
Anonymous (1978), The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Min. of Health and Family Welfare,
Dept. of ISM and H, Govt. of India, Part I.
Anonymous (1992), The Wealth of India, Raw Materials, Publications and Information
Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. vol. III. p. 482.
Anonymous (1996), Flora of Maharashtra State, Monocotyledones, edited by Sharma, B.D.
et al., Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. p. 123-129.
Anonymous (2000), The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Min. of Health and Family Welfare,
Dept. of ISM and H, Govt. of India, Part II.
Anonymous (2000a), The Useful Plants of India, National Institute of Science
Communication, CSIR, New Delhi. p. 121.
Anonymous (2002), Cultivation Practices of some Commercially important medicinal
plants. National Medicinal Plants Board (Dept. of ISM & H) Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare Govt. of India. p. 53-55.
414
Aundhe DJ; Deokule SS (2001), Pharmacognostic study of root tubers of Cynotis tuberosa
Roxb. A substitute of Safed musali., J of Phytological Research. 14(1) : 59-62.
Bhavaprakash Nighantu of Bhavmishra, Hindi Translation and Commentary by Chunekar
KC and Pandey GS (1982), 6th edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi, p. 391.
Bole PV; Pathak JM (1988), Flora of Saurashtra, Botanical Survey of India vol. III. p. 319.
Chadha KL; Gupta R (1995), Advances in Horticulture, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,
Malhotra Publishing House, New Delhi. vol. XI. p. 431-432.
Chopra RN; Nayar SL; Chopra IC (2002), Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 6th
reprint, Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi. p. 28.
Cooke T (1967), The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, reprinted edition, Botanical Survey
of India, Calcutta. vol. III. p. 281-282.
Dalal KC; Patel DH; Hircara BV (1987), Information on floral biological aspects and
improvement, propagation and collection availability from Gujrat. All India Co-ordination Project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, ICAR VII Workshop Report, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Udaipur, 2-5 Nov. 1987.p. 45-48.
Gamble JS (1967), Flora of the Presidency of Madras, reprinted edition, Botanical Survey
of India, Calcutta. vol. III. p. 1066.
Gurav AM; Chaudhari BG; Sathe MV; Singh SP (2005), Comparative Pharmacognostical
and Phytochemical study of root tuber of Chlorophytum tubersum, C. borivilliamum and C.
laxum R. Br. - Paper communicated to CCRAS, New Delhi for Publication.
Hooker JD (1973), Flora of British India, reprinted edition, B. Singh and M.P. Singh and
Periodical Experts, Delhi. vol. VI. p. 334.
http://www.bssmworld.com/herbal_health/chlorophytum_borivillanum.htm
Kirtikar KR; Basu BD (1989), Indian Medicinal Plants, published by Lalit Mohan Basu,
Allahabad, India. vol. IV. p. 2501.
Nadkarni KM (1976), Indian Materia Medica, Popular Prakashan Bombay. vol. 1. p. 309.
Naik VN et al. (1998), Flora of Marathwada, Amrut Prakashan, Aurangabad. vol II. p. 861-
862.
Narsimhan S; Govindarajan R; Vijayakumar M; Mehrotra S (2006), Free radical
screening potential of Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker. J Ethnopharmacol. 104(3) : 423.
Prajapati S (2006), Amaltas, Published by Sanjeev Prajapati, Sonamukhi Nagar, Sangaria
Fanta, Salawas Road, Jodhpur (Rajasthan). p. 60.
Purohit SD; Dave A; Kukda G (1994), Micropropagation of safed musli (Chlorophytum
borivillianum) a rare Indian Medicinal herb. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 39: 93-96.
Sharma PV (1978), Dravyaguna-Vijnana, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi. vol.
II: p. 133.
415
Shibnath Ghosal (2006), Compositions for anti-obesity, health-restorative and health-
promotional benefits. US Patent: 20060062863. (http://www.patentdebate.com /PATAPP/
20060062863)
Shrivastava DK; Verma S; Mishra PK; Gangrade SK (2000), Studies on propagation
methods and dormancy in safed musli - Chlorophytum borivilianum and Chlorophytum tuberosum. J of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Sciences. 22(sup.1) : 64.
Tripathi R (2003), Amaltas, Sonamukhi Nager, Jodhpur. VIII: 19
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Anonymous (2003), Export Potential of Indian Medicinal Plants and Products (occasional
paper No. 98) Export - Import Bank of India, Quest Publications., p. 103, 141, 186, 194.
Asolkar LV; Kakkar KK; Chakre OJ (1992), Second Supplement to Glossary of Indian
Medicinal Plants with Active Principles, Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, Part I (A-K). p. 197.
Bhattacharjee SK (1998), Handbook of Medicinal Plants, Pointer Publishers, Jaipur, India.
p. 93.
Chaudhari US; Hutke V (2002), Ethno-medico-botanical information on some plants used
by Melghat tribal of Amravati district, Maharashtra. Ethnobotony, 14(1-2) : 100-102.
David P (1963), Bengal Plants, reprinted edition, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. p.
810.
Dharme SR; Zade NS (2001), Evaluation and multiplication of germplarm of safed-musli-
Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. (Liliaceae). Proceedings of the 88th session of the Indian Science Congress, New Delhi Part III, Section IV; Botany, 45-46.
Diwikar PG; Sharma BD (2000), Flora of Buldhana District Maharashtra State, B.S.I.
Calcutta (Series 3) p. 305.
Dixit RS; Mishra OP (1999), Important herbal wealth of Lalitpur forest division of
Bundelkhand circle, U.P. part - I, Bulletin of Medico Ethno-Botanical Research, XX, 1-4: 20-35.
Duthie JF (1960), Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain and of the Adjacent Siwalik and Sub-
Himalayan Tracts, reprinted edition, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. vol. II. p. 334.
Haines HH (1961), The Botany of Bihar and Orissa, reprinted edition, Botanical Survey of
India, Calcutta. p. 1148.
Kothari SK (2004), Safed musli Chlorophytum borivilianum, J Med Arom Plant Sci. 26(1) :
60-63.
Nayar MP; Ramamurthy K; Agarwal VS (1989), Economic Plants of India, Botanical
Survey of India. vol. 2. p. 74.
Oudhia P (2001), Problems perceived by safed moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum)
growers of Chattisgarh (India) region: A study, J Med Arom Plant Sci. 22 (4A). 23(1A) : 396-399.
416
Pandey R; Kalra A; Gupta ML; Sharma P (2003), Phytonematodes: Major pest of MAPs
Proceedings of first National (Inter active Meet on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (eds. A.K. Mathur et al.). CIMAP, Lucknow, UP, India, 188-197.
Prakash A; Singh KK (2003), Priorities and needs of biotechnological developments for
urgent investigations of some threatened potential ethno st medicinal nd ants and their pl
conservation for sustainable utilization in human welfare in 21 century., 2 world Congress
on "Biotechnological Developments of, Herbal medicine" NBRI, Lucknow, UP, India: 49.
Pudake RN; Dhumale DB (2004), In vitro Multiplication of Chlorophytum borivillianum
Sant. And Fern. J of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities. 28(3) : 265-267.
Purohit SD; Dave A; Bilochi G; Joshi N (2003), Opportunities for sealing up production
and commercial cultivation of micro propagated safed musli (C. borivillianum) Proceedings of first National Interactive Meet on Medicinal and Aromatic plant CIMAP, Lucknow, U.P. India. p. 387-398.
Qudhia P (2001), First record of orange banded bivster beetle Zonabris pustulata Thunb.
(Coleopleia; Melosdae) on safedrusli (Chlorophytum borivilianum L.) National Research Seminar o Herbal Conservation, cultivation, Marketing and utilization with special Emphasis on Chattisgarh, The Herbal state, Raipur, chattisgarh. 73.
Rao RS (1985), Flora of India, (Series - 2). Flora of Goa, Diu, Daman Dadra and
Nagarhaveli, (2). Botanical Survey of India. vol. 2. p. 436.
Santapau H (1967), Flora of Khandala, on the Western Ghats of India, 3rd edition. p. 283.
Shah GL (1978), Flora of Gujarat State, Sardar Patel University, Vallabha Vidyanagar. vol.
II. p. 680.
Sharma BD; Singh NP; Raghavan RS; Deshpande UR (1984), Flora of Karnataka
Analysis, Botanical Survey of India, Dept. of Environment, Howrah. p. 286.
Shastri AD (1981), Bhaishajyaratnavali, Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi.
Shrivastava DK; Mishra PK; Varma S; Gangrade SK (2000 - 2001), Studies on
propagation methods and dormancy in safed musli (Chlorophytum Spp.). J Med Arom Plant Sci. 22(4A) : 23(1A) : 275-276.
Singh B; Chunekar KC (1972), Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Brhattrayi, Chaukhamba
Amarabharati Prakashan, Varanasi. p. 312.
Singh SP; Singh O; Gupta AK; Mishra N (2004), Distribution, biodiversity and cultivation
of safed musli (C. borivillianum). Chemistry Biology Interface: Synergistic New Frontiers, New Delhi, India. 25-29.
Sreevidya N; Kumar V; Kumar S; Sikarwar RLS (2003), Utilization, depletion and
conservation of safed musli (Chlorophytum Sp.). J of Non-Timber Forest Products. 10: 155- 157.
Varma S; Sharma RK; Shrivastava DK (2000), Seed germination, viability and in vitro
propagation studies in medicinal plants of commercial value. (National Seminar on the frontiers of Research and Development in Medicinal plants, September 16-18,CIMAP, Lucknow, Abstr. No. 153). J Med Arom Plant Sci. 22(Suppl. 1) : 78.
417
Varma S; Sharma RK; Shrivastava DK (2000-2001), Seed germination, viability and in
vitro propagation studies in medicinal plants of commercial value., J Med Arom Plant Sci. 22(4A). 23(1A) : 426-428.
418
SHVETAJEERAKA
BOTANICAL NAME : Cuminum cyminum Linn.
FAMILY : Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
CLASSICAL NAMES
Ajaji, Jeeraka, Prthyika (C.S.; S.S.; A.H.).
SYNONYMS
Ajajika, Dipya, Dipyaka, Dirghajiraka, Dirghaka, Dirghakana, Gaurajaji,
Gaurajiraka, Hrasvanga, Hridya, Jarana, Jira, Jirana, Kana, Kanajira,
Kanavha, Kunchika, Magadha, Manjna, Mitadipya, Mitajaji, Pitava,
Pujyamanaka, Ruchya, Shuklajaji, Vahmisakha, Varuna (Sharma, 1978;
D.N., 1982; B.N., 1982; R.N., 1982).