Curculigo orchioides is also known as kali musli, which grows wild in sandy regions of hotter parts of India and Sri Lanka. It has been used as a traditional medicine for rejuvenation, diuretic, diabetes, asthma etc. Ayurveda suggests that Curculigo orchioides also has very potent spermatogenic and aphrodisiac activity.
Major Chemical Constituents:
Major active constituents of Curculigo orchioides are carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycoside, saponins and sterols, curculigosaponin A–F, curculigoside B and curculignin B and C.
Pharmacological Actions
Spermatogenic & Aprodisiac activity:1,2,3
In one of the studies ethanolic extract of rhizomes was evaluated for its effect on sexual behavior in rats. The result of the study showed an anabolic and spermatogenic effect. The treatment also markedly affected sexual behavior of animals and penile erection index was also incremented in treated group.
Herb Drug interactions:
There are no known herb drug intereactions.
Safety: 4
This drug should not be taken in overdoses or for very long time because of its warm, pungent and toxic properties. The LD50 of Curculigo orchioides is found to be 180 mg/kg body weight of animals.
Reference
1
Chauhan N.S., Rao Ch. V., Dixit V.K. Effect of Curculigo orchioides rhizomes on sexual behaviour of male rats. Fitoterapia 78 (2007) 530 – 534
2
Chauhan NS and Dixit VK Spermatogenic activity of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn in male rats. International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products Vol. 1(2), pp. 26-31, June/July 2008
3
Thakur M, Chauhan NS, Bhargava S, Dixit VK A Comparative Study on Aphrodisiac Activity of Some Ayurvedic Herbs in Male Albino Rats. Arch Sex Behav. 2009 Jan 13.
4
Venukumar M.R., and Latha M.S. Antioxidant Activity of Curculigo orchioides in Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatopathy in Rats. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2002, 17 (2) 80-87
