Introduction

A prominent member of the Vrishya( Eugenic & aphrodisiac), Rasayana (Adaptogenic, Rejuvenating) and Balya (Tonic), Safed Musli is highly popular in all Traditional Systems of Medicine(TSMs) like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha. Safed Musli has served for the betterment of health since 11^th century A.D. (Ref: Sharngadhar Samhita) as a potent aphrodisiac, as a health promoter which delays ageing, better muscle tone, optimizes the use of body’s energy resources. Recent research done under the guidance of HITAYU team shows that safed musli increases sperm count, semen volume, haemoglobin level, serum protein level, betters sexual life, increases stamina reflected in enhanced working capacity. 

Safed Musli – another ginseng in waiting

As the demand for adaptation is taking its toll on present day population’s health, the quest for a suitable panacea that can help us in better adaptability to keep us healthy is still on. The success story of Korean Ginseng can be attributed to Ginseng’s versatile health promoting properties and Good market placement. The health benefits that safed musli Being a sheeta veerya and rasayana, safed musli can be safely consumed life long on daily basis without any apprehension of adverse effects.

Controversy evolving around safed musli

In ancient times no botanical system was in place to describe a plant, but Ayurvedic material medica had its own full proof method of describing a plent. Ayurveda documented plants with their synonyms, which explains various aspects of the plant like external morphology, pharmacological property, actions, uses, countries of origin, etc. with time the understanding of this way of describing a plant has gone cryptic beyond today’s scientist’s comprehension. This poses a great difficulty in botanical identification of the classical plant.

Various plants belonging to the genera Chlorophytum and Asparagus has been in use both in medical and commercial parlance in the common name of Safed Musli because of their white tuberous roots with some sort of aphrodisiac property. The list of the plants that are used as Safed Musli is give below

1. Chlorophytum borivilianum
2. Chlorophytum tuberosum
3. Chlorophytum arundinaceum
4. Chlorophytum laxum
5. Chlorophytum breviscapum
6. Asparagus adescendens

After analyzing the classical descriptions the experts like Prof. Mahesh Chandra Sharma has arrived at a conclusion that Chlorophytum borivilianum  is the correct botanical source of Safed Musli.

Market Status

Basing upon unofficial estimates Safed Musli enjoys a huge demand-supply gap. One survey conducted by CEDMAP estimates the annual demand of Safed Musli to the tune of 35000tons whereas the supply is 5000 tons. Being a highly secretive and unorganized market providing the precise data is next to impossible. But, basing upon the first hand exposure to various markets of our team members we can safely claim that Safed Musli is a medicinal plant of high demand with lucrative export potential. Safed Musli is traded in international  market like GULF countries, Germany, United States , United Kingdom and Switzerland. In domestic arena the nodal centers of safed musli are Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur,
Hyderabad, Raipur, Indore, Kolkata. The market is entirely controlled by traders from Delhi and Mumbai in a very secretive and opportunistic way. A market for Safed Musli does exist and it needs streamlining of information channel where the grower should know who are the buyers. Our marketing team is working very seriously towards this.Considering the overall growth in herbal market and obvious advantages of india we foresee a handsome growth in Safed Musli market.

Economic benefits of safed musli Cultivation

Input cost per acre

            See material cost        = Rs. 1,57,500.00 (450kgs @ Rs.350.00 per kg)

            Cost of cultivation        = Rs. 60,000.00

            Total                           = Rs. 2,17,500.00

Output

Rs. 3,60,000.00 ( 360 kgs of dry material @ Rs.1000.00 per kg)

Benefits = Rs.1,42,500.00

Prerequisites for cultivation of Safed Musli.

Climatic factors
 

1. Rainfall: Safed Musli can be grown in tropical and subtropical zones with rainfall of 500-1200mm / annum.

2. Temperature: Minimum and Maximum temperature ranging from 20-45°c is optimum for cultivation of Safed Musli.

3. Sunlight: 5-8hrs per day (Except rainy season)

Soil

   1.    Texture - Soil texture should be sandy loam  (Sand, silt, clay in ratio of 2:1:1), friable, well aerated, fairly deep up to 1.5ft, well supplied with organic matter and water.

   2.  Slope - It should have gentle slope of 10-15° angle for easy drainage of water.
   3. pH - Soil should have neutral p^H 6.5-7.5; p^H 6.0-7.8 range can be amendable to bring p^H to neutral.
   4. EC - Soil Electric Conductivity (E.C) should be normal (0 – 1.5 mmho/cm)

Safed Musli Monograph

CLASS

•  Aphrodisiac (Vrishya, Muqqabe-e-wah)

• Adaptogen (Rasayana)

• Anti-ageing (Rasayana)

• Health restorative & Health Promoting (Urjaskara)

• Tonic (Balya, Muqawwee)

CLASSICAL REFERENCES

Sharngadhar Samhita;11^TH century A.D.; Prathama Khanda – 4/15

"YASMACHHUKRASYA VRIDHHIH SYAT SHUKRALAM CHA TADUCHYATE YATHA......MUSALEE....

That which effectuates an increase in shukra is known as  Shukrala.

Sodhala Nighantu;10th Century A.D; Nama Samgrahe : 88-90

" IKSHURO DARAKRISHNASCHA MUSHALYESHAM TU CHURNAKAM 

PAYASA PEEYAMANAM TU VAJEEKARAMUTTAMAM ......................

The powder of ikshu (Sachharum officinarum), dadakrishna and mushalee (Chlorophytum borivilianum) when taken with milk are excellent aphrodisiacs.

Sodhala Nighantu; 10th Century A.D;    Karaveeradi Vargah : 4/37

MUSHALEE RASAPAKABHYAM SVADUSHEETAGNI VARDHINEE

VATAPITTAHARA VRISHYA STHARIYAMARDAVADAYINE............

Musali posses svadu/Madhura Rasa (taste), Madhura vipaka (final transformation), Sheeta veerya, enhances digestive power, pacifies Vata & Pitta and is vrishya (aphrodisiac), ushers in stability and flexibility.

Madhava Dravyaguna;12^th Century A.D.; Vividhaushadhi Vargah : 1/ 8

“MUSHALEE MADHURA VRISHYA VEERYOSHNA BRIMAHNEE GURUH  

TIKTA RASAYANEE HANTI GUDAJANYANILAMTATHA ........................ 

Musali possesses Madhura rasa & vipaka, Ushna Veerya, and guru guna (difficult to digest), and is vrishya (aphrodisiac),brimhana (increases copulence), Rasayana ( rejuvenator) and alleviates ano-rectal diseases and vata dosha.

Madhava Dravyaguna; 12^th Century A.D.; Shakah Vargah  : 22/ 79

“KASHAYAH PITTASHAMANAH VIPAKE MADHURA HIMAH ...................  

MUSHALEE BRIMAHNEE VRISHYA VEERYOSHNA ARSHO ANILAPAHA

Mushalee is madhura  and mild  kashaya in taste, possesses madhura vipaka, sheeta veerya. It is vrishya (aphrodisiac ), brimhana (increases body bulk) and alleviates ano-rectal diseases and vata dosha.

Madanapala Nighantu; 16^th Century A.D;  Shaka Vargha : 85

“MUSAHLEE TALAPATREE SYATKHALINEE TALAMOOLIKA

MUSHALEE BRIMHANEE BALYA VEERYOSHANARSHO ANILAPAHA

Musalee, Talapatree, Khalinee and talamoolika are synonymous. Musalee is of ushra veerya ,brimhvana, balya (which increases bala), and of alleviates piles and vata.

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu; 16^th Century A.D;  Guduchyadi Vargah : 183

“TALAMULEE TU VIDVADBHI         MUSHALI PARIKEERTITA

MUSHALEE MADHURA VRISHYA VEERYOSHNA BRIMHANEE GURU

TIKTA RASAYANEE HANTI GUDAJANYANILAM TATHA 

Erudite people term talamulee as Mushalee (c.b).  Mushalee possesses Madhura Rasa, guru, guna, ushna veerya, and is vrishya, brimhanee and rasayana.  It alleviates ano-rectal diseases and pacifies vata dosha.

Raja Nighantu ;17^th Century A.D;  Moolakadi Vargah : 116-117

“ MUSALEE MADHURA SHEETA VRISHYA PUSHTIBALAPRADA

PICHHILA KAPHADA PITTA DAHA SHRAMAHARA PARA

MUSALEE SYADDVIDHA PROKTA SHVETA CHAPARASANGYAKA

Musalee is of madhura rash, sheeta veerya, gives nutrition (Pushtiprada), enhances bala pichhila (Unctuous), produces kapha (responsible for immunity), alleviates pitta dosha, reduces burning sensation, and is the best fatigue reducing agent.

This musalee is of two types viz. shveta (white) and Krishna ( black).

Rajaballabha Nighantu; 19^th Century A.D;   Nanaushadhi Vargah : 6/36

“TALAMOOLEE HITA VATE GRAHANEE CHA RASAYANEE”

Talamoolee or Chlorophytum borivilianum is helpful in vatic disorders, grahanee (I.B.S or Tropical sprue) and is a rejuvenator.

Shaleegrama Nighantu;20^th Century A.D;    Guduchyadi Vargah : Pg. 289

“MUSALEE TALAMULEE CHA KHALANEE TALAMOOLIKA (Sva)

MUSALEE MADHURAVRISHYA VEERYOSHNA BRIMHANEE GURUH

TIKTA RASAYANEE HANTI GUDAJANYANILAMSTATHA (B.P)

MUSALEE RASAPAKABHYAM SVADHU SHEETAGNIVARDHINEE

VATAPITTAHARA VRISHYASTHAIRYA MARDAVADAYINEE (S.N)

MUSALEE MADHURA VRISHYA DHATUVRIDDHIKAREE GURUH

TIKTA PUSHTI BALAKAREE PICHHILA SHLESHMALA MATA

RASAYANEE SHEETALA CHA PITTADADAHAREE MATA

RAKTADOSHNAM SHRAMAMCHAIVA NASHAYEDITI KEERTITAM

KRISHNADHIKAGUNA PROKTA SHVETA CHALPA GUNA MATA

Musalee is otherwise also known as Talamulee, khalance, talamoolika . Musale is stated to be of madhura rasa, ushna veerya, guru guna and it is vrishya, brimbana, rasayana and it alleviates anorectal diseases and vatic diseases.

Musalee is madhura both in Rasa and Vipaka, sheeta veerya, potentiates digestive force.  It pacifies vata, pitta and produces aphrodisiac, action,  in stability a flexibility of the body. Mushalee is of madhura rasa and is an aphrodisiac: it enhances all the seven dhatus and is guru.  It is slightly bitter, gives nutrition and strength: it is unctuous and produces Kapha It also is a rejuvenator and possess sheeta veerya: it reduces pitta dosha and burning sensation.  It also cures rakto dosha ( responsible for various skin diseases) and reduces fatique Krishna is said to be of higher value than shveta.

Priya Nighantu; 21^st Century A.D;  Sharadi Vargah : 36
 

“ MUSALEE KANDAPRADHANA YO SEVITVA NARO BALEE BHAVATI

VRISHYA SATIKTAMADHURA RASAYANEE VATASHAMANEE CHA”

Musalee (c.b) is a tuberous plant, on consumption of which a person becomes stronger . It is of madhura and slightly tikta  rasa and is vrishya, rasayan and vata- pacifies.

Siddhabhesaja Manimala;21^st Century A.D.; 2nd Guchha; Paushtika Vargah/100

"MUDHURA BALADA YUVABHAVAKAREE GUDAJANILAKOPAHAREE MUSHALEE. UPABHUJYATA EVA HIYENA SADA BHUVI TENA PARAM SADRISHO MUSHALI

Mushalee is madhura, provides bala, ushers in youth: it alleviates ano-rectal diseases and vata dosha.  By taking this one can become strong like Balaram. 

All the references cited above reveals that roots of Safed Musli possess  madhura rasa (sweet in taste), madhura vipaka (sweet in final transformation after digestion and metabolism), guru (heavy), pichhila (viscid) and sheetqa veerya ( cool in potency). On account of these properties it pacifies Vata and Pitta and produces Kapha (Bala).

It exerts Balya (Vitality, Immunity and strength), Rasayana  (anti-ageing and cognitive enhancer) and Vrishya (aphrodisiac) effects. It alleviates ano-rectal diseases like piles and Vatic disorders.

Botanical Description

Macroscopic

Habit - A small perennial herb with a full crown of radical leaves appearing over the ground with the advent of summer rain.

Root - Root tubers are fleshy, fascicled, directly originates from the stem disc devoid of any fibrous structure, cylindrical, 5-20 in number, outer skin is straw coloured and white on peeling ; the tubers are 10-25 cms x 1-2 cms in dimension.

Leaves  - Radical, 6-13 in number, 13-23 cms x 1.0 -1.75cm in size, spirally imbricate at the base, sessile, linear or ovate, acute apex, slightly narrowed at the base. The leaves spread horizontally, both surfaces are smooth; margins are wavy ; parallel venation.

Inflorescence - Scape solitary, terete, 15-30 cms long. Terminal, unbranched; it bears flowers on above upper 3/4th of its length.

Flowers  - Small, white, bracteate, pedicillate, zygomorphic, usually arranged in alternate clusters, each cluster comprising of 3 flowers; the flower clusters are dense on the upper part of the scape; bracts are linear, papery and purplish, 1.0-10.5 cms long; pedicle whitish, jointed and kneed at the joint, 6-10 mm long.

Perianth  - Tepals white, 6 in number arranged in two whorls of 3 each, linear, membranous, acute, 3-5 nerved, imbricate aestivation.

Androecium  - Stamens 6, arranged in two whorls situated opposite to tepals, united to the perianths, as long as perianth, dithecus, filaments are glabrous, anthers are yellow, linear, dehisces by longitudinal slits.

Gynoecium - Tricarpellary, syncarpous; ovary superior, adnate at the base of the perianth, trilocular with axile placentation, angles obtuse, green, glabose ; ovules numerous in each locule, style single, slightly longer than the stamens, swollen at the apex.

Fruit  - A locilucidal capsule, green to yellow coloured, triquertous to 3-sulcate, almost equal in length and breadth.

Seeds - Endospermic, onion-like, black coloured, angular; each capsule bearing 14-16 seeds.

Chromosomes - 2n=16

Floral Formula  - + P (3+3), A (3+3) G(3)

Microscopic - Transverse Section of Root

A transverse section of root shows a circular outline without any appendages. The outermost layer in yellowish pieces (which are very few in number ) is a uniseriate epidermis which consists of cells with very thickened and swollen walls due to silicious deposition. The cells though appearing mostly rectangular with few square in shape do not have clear demarcations. In some cells very narrow  lumen is noticed. This structure is altogether absent in majority of the pieces which are decorticated. This is followed by a very large zone of cortex. The outermost layer of the cortex (which is outermost boundary in most pieces) just below the epidemis consists of cells which are mostly rectangular, appearing much longer than wide. The rest of the cortical cells are rounded to polygonal, parenchymatous and have little or no intercellular spaces (probably due to swelling. The innermost layer of the cortex is a single layer endodermis.

The stellar structure shows that the endodermis is followed by a uniseriate pericycle layer. The vascular tissue is not very elaborate. The xylem is exarch and consists of jointed vessels, 3-5 in number in each group. There are about 30-35 groups of xylem. However, xylery fibres are quite abundant, surrounding the vessels and jointed to form a more or less continuous irregular ring. However, the amount of xylery fibres is not uniform at all places. The phloem is grouped in between the arches of the xylery tissue along with parenchyma. The central region is occupied by a fairly large pith region where also the cells are closely packed as in cortical region. These are mostly polygonal in shape.

Flowering and seed formation:

When well developed plants with fleshy roots are planted both in nature and in field, these produced inflorescence with the emergence of its sprouting within 4-6 days of receipt of first shower i.e. in July - August. However, when the plant is grown in the field from individual fleshy roots, then only those fleshy roots will produce inflorescence which are well developed but in this case number of flowers are less. This peculiar flowering pattern may be attributed to the presence of relatively more stored food material in the former.

Generally, one plant produce one inflorescence but sometimes 3-4 inflorescences are seen if the mother plant is older and the stem disc is well developed.

This is an insect pollinated plant. All capsules do not mature at the same time and dehiscence takes place as soon as it turns brown consequently the seed collection is very difficult.

Uses

Medicinal

Aphrodisiac - Reported to increase the semen volume and total sperm count. It also enhances the sexual desire and makes the act more pleasurable.

Anti-ageing - It is said to be endowed with Rasayana properties i.e. it delays the ageing process by rejuvenating the entire system.

Enhances working capacity - Safed Musli increases the capacity to work owing to its Balya properties.

It is also useful in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes Mellitus,Piles.

It is also used for betterment of both physical and mental health in children.

It is useful in various Gynaecological diseases as it corrects hormonal disturbances.

Nutraceutical

It can be used as a nutraceutical, in powder or extract form, to better general health, sexual health and to delay the ageing process

Botanical

Safe Musli can be used as a botanical to enrich different product with respect to their benefits.

Processed Foods

Safed musli can be transformed into Drinks, Energy Powders.

Phytochemical Analysis

1.Saponins – 4 - 7 %

            i.  Stigmasterol                                    – 1.9-3.5 %

            ii. Sitosterol                                         - 0.5 – 1.0 %

            iii. Sugars

            a. Arabinose                            – 0.79%

                        b. Galactose                            – 3.80%

                        c. Glucose                               – 0.73%

                        d. Rhamnose                           – 0.78%

                        e. Xylose                                 – 0.76%

2. Carbohydrates                                             – 35-42%

            i. Reducing Sugar                                – 20-25%

            ii. Non-reducing Sugar                          – 15-17%

3. Protein                                                        – 8-8.5%

Mode  of Action

Classical basis :

“Yasmat Shukrasya Vriddhi syat Shukralam Cha Taduchyate 
Yatha  Musalee ................ ”         Sarngadhara Samhita, 11th century A.D.

means Shukrala drugs like Musli increases Shukra – Ayurvedic equivalent of Semen with seminal fluid, Sperm and Testosterone.

“ Sarvada sarva bhavanam samanyam vriddhi karanam ”

                                                              Charak, 2nd Century B.C

means Similar leads to increase in similar. Dried root tubers of safed musliresemble the shape of spermatozoa  rise in sperm count. Safed Musli is pichhil(sticky) and white in colour like semen   increase in volume of semen.

Contemporary basis

Stigmasterol, Sitosterol the chief ingredient of Chlorophytum borivilianum is structurally similar to that of corticosteroids and testosterone, thus facilitates synthesis of these hormones in the body.

DOSING INFORMATION       

Dosing of herbal preparation is dependent upon on a variety factors, such as body constitution of the recipient, seriousness of the ailment, place of use, collecting or growing and harvesting conditions, plant parts used and extraction methods and dosage form standardization to single constituent markers has proven unreliable. Considering all these dosage ranges must be employed as guidelines as per the following

Root Powder

1. Adult - 3-6 gms per day

2. Children (above 6 years) – 1- 3 gms per day

Extract

1. Adult – 1-2 gms per day

2. Children (above 6 years) – 500mg per day

ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION -  Oral

TYPES OF PRESENTATION

• Powder

• Extract

• Capsules

• Tablets

CONTRAINDICATIONS

There is no as such contraindication of this herb.

ADVERSE EFFECTS

It has no adverse effect it taken in a proper dose. Hyper dosing may lead to gastrointestinal upset.

DRUG / FOOD INTERACTIONS

No scientific study has been done to determine its interaction with drug / food. Clinical observation suggests, it reduces appetite and interferes with digestion process. Therefore, it is advised to be taken / hour before food.

Quality Control

Physico-chemical constants

1. Total Ash                                         - 3.02%

2. Acid Insoluble Ash                           - 0.25%

3. Water soluble ash                            - 50.7% of total ash

4. Hot extraction                                  - 20.48%

5. Cold Maceration                               - 0.35%

6. Water & Volatile matter                    - 7.60%

7. Foaming Index                                 - 166.67%

8. Swelling Index                                 - 4.60 ml

9. Mass fraction of Tannins                   - 1.20%

Microbial contamination tests

1. Aerobic microbial plate count-37⁰C              - <10 ⁵ /g

2. Yeasts and Molds Count                             - <10 ³ /g

3. Escherichia coli in 1 g                                 -  <10/g

4. Salmonella in 25 gms                                  - Absent

5. Enterobacteriaeae                                       - <10 ³/g

Heavy metal residues

1. Lead as Pb                                                  - <10mg/kg

2. Arsenic as As                                              -<3mg/kg

3. Cadmium as Cd                                           -<0.3mg/kg

4. Mercury as Hg                                             -<0.1ppm

Thin Layer Chromatography

Pesticide residue

   Name                                                           Acceptable limit

1. 4,4-DDD                                                      - 0.05ppm

2. 4,4-DDE                                                      - 0.05ppm

3. 4,4-DDT                                                       - 0.05ppm

4. Alpha-BHC                                                   -0.01 ppm

5. Beta-BHC                                                     -0.01 ppm

6. Gamma-BHC                                                -0.01 ppm

7. Delta-BHC                                                    -0.01 ppm

8. Heptachlor                                                   -0.01 ppm

9. Heptachlor epoxide                                       -0.01 ppm

10. Endosulfan I                                               -0.05 ppm

11. Aldrin                                                         -0.02 ppm

12. Dieldrin                                                      -0.02 ppm

13. Endrin                                                        -0.01 ppm

14. Endosulfan II                                               -0.05 ppm

15. Endrin aldehyde                                          -0.01 ppm

16. Endosulfan sulfate                                       -0.05 ppm

17. Methoxychlor                                              -0.01 ppm

18. Cypermethrin                                              -0.05 ppm

19. Deltamethrin                                               -0.05 ppm

20. Permethrin                                                 -0.05 ppm

21. Fenvalerate                                                -0.02 ppm

22. Azinfos                                                      -0.05 ppm

23. Ethion                                                        -0.1   ppm

24. Dimethoate                                                -0.02 ppm

25. Disulfoton                                                  -0.02 ppm

26. Methyl parathion                                        -0.05 ppm

27. Parathion                                                   -0.05 ppm

28. Diazinon                                                    -0.02 ppm

29. Malathion                                                   -0.05 ppm

30. Demeton                                                    -0.4   ppm       

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