It is first mentioned by Caraka in the treatment of respiratory disorders (C.S.Ci. 18/74). Sushruta quoted it in the treatment of urolithiosis (S.S.Ci. 7/18) and in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (S.S.Ut. 51/39). Vagbhata for the first time introduced the term ‘Musali’ in the context of hyper pigmentation of skin as external application (A.H.Ut. 32/21).
Sarngdhara mentioned Musali as one of the best examples for Vrishya group of drugs (Sa. Sam. Ma. Kha. 4).
At present C. orchiodes is considered as “Kala-Musali” (black variety) of the commercial market and is distinguished from Safed-Musali” (white variety) which is identified as the tuberous root of Asperagus adscendens. These are considered as the ‘Krishna’ and ‘Sveta’ varieties of Musali by the lexicon writers. Black variety is considered as the superior one.
Botancial Description – Kali Musli is a herbaceous tuberous perennial with a short or elongate root stock bearing several fleshy lateral roots; Leaves sessile or petiolate 15-45×1.3-2.5 cm, linear or linear lanceolate, tips sometimes rooting, scape very short, clavate; Flowers in racemes, distichious, yellow, lowest in the racemes 2 sexual, perianth segments elliptic, oblong, hairy on the back; Fruits capsules, derived from inferior tricarpellary syncarpous ovary, 1-4 seeded; Seeds black, oblong, deeply grooved in wavy lines. It grows in all temperate regions in India.
Major Chemical Constituents– Curculigol; curculigo saponins K, L & M; curculigenins B & C; curculigoside A, B & C etc.
Part Used– Tuberous root
Dosage– Powder 3-6 g.
Research–
(1) Flavonone glycoside (I) showed powerful uterine stimulating activity in guinea pigs, rats and rabbits (J. R. Ind. Med., 10, 104, 1975).
(2) Through a clinical study, the superiority of K¾¦Äa Musali over white variety is establashed in improving the sperm count, mobility and spermatogenesis (Gupta, 1984).
(3) C. orchioides was found to be more effective when compared to L. Kasturi (A. esculentus) in a clinical trial (Joshi, 1988).
(4) The effect of C. orchioides on spermatogenesis was studied in a clinical trial and found to be significant (Puranik, 1991).
(5) Curculigo saponin G increased the weight of thymus in vivo in mice (Planta Med. 1992, 58, 208).
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