Abstract

Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), (Figure 1) a herb belongs to family Liliaceae. It was originally grown in thick forests of India,1 is a promising medicinal plant with great economic potential. The appreciation of medicinal value of safed musli tubers has been made in ancient Indian medicine literature right from the 11th century AD. The tubers contain saponins and have aphrodisiac, adaptogenic, antiaging, health restorative and health promoting properties.2 Its root contains steroidal and triterpenoidal saponins, sapogenins and fructans which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phenol, resins, mucilage, and polysaccharides and also contains high quantity of simple sugars, mainly sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose and xylose.3 The plant is cultivated in different parts of India on a small scale at present. However, systematic information on different aspects of this species is not available. In this review, an attempt has been made to present this information.4 Safed musli is being promoted as a sexual enhancement herb and has historically been used as an aphrodisiac herb.

Keywords

borivilianum, rats, tonic, medicinal system, safed musli, animal studies, antioxidant