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Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum L.): Medicinal and Wonder Crop

Pankaj Oudhia
Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM)
28-A, Geeta Nagar, Raipur - 492001 India
pankaj.oudhia@usa.net
www.pankajoudhia.com

India is bestowed with a wealth of medicinal plants, most of which have been used in Ayurveda, Unani systems of medicines, and by tribal healers. Safed moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum L., Liliaceae) holds an important position in Indian herbal medicine. The roots are widely used as a natural "sex tonic" and is an integral part of more than 100 herbal drug formulations (Oudhia 2001a). Although Indian forests are rich in safed moosli demand is increasing rapidly in Indian and international drug markets. Foreign demand has been estimated as 300-700 tonnes annually (Bordia et al. 1995), a quantity that Indian forests cannot sustain. This has created a pressure on Indian forests and if steps for timely conservation are not taken, the Indian forests will lose this valuable plant (Oudhia 2001b). At present the availability of Chlorophytum is decreasing and obnoxious weeds like Parthenium hysterophons and Lantana are taking its place (Oudhia 1996).

Dried roots of Chlorophytum contain 42% carbohydrate, 80–9% protein, 3–4% fiber and 2–17% saponin (Bordia et al. 1995). Research studies on Chlorophytum conducted in India and elsewhere indicate that saponins are responsible for medicinal properties. Saponins are thought to be highest in roots of forest origin.

More than 175 species of Chlorophytum have been reported in the world. Chloophytum comosum is widely used as ornamental plant where it is commonly known as spider ivy, spider plant, aeroplane plant, or walking anthericum. Thirteen species of Chlorophytum have been been reported in India. All these species differ in appearance, native species are sold as sufed moosli in the Indian drug market. Chlorophytum boriviliahum produces the highest yield and highest saponin content. Other native Indian Chlorophytum species (Table 1) include C. arundinaceum, C. tuberosu, C. laxum, and C. breviscapum (Oudhia 2000a).

Table 1. Different species of Chlorophytum available in India.

Species	Distribution
C. arundinaceum Baker	All districts of Chota Nagpur, Vindhya, Satpura and Aravali Hills, parts of Central India. Taria region of N-E Himalayas in Assam. West Bengal and Bihar.
C. attenuatum Baker	Western Ghats, southwards to Comibatore, West Peninsula.
C. borivilianum	Dangs Forests (Gujarat). Aravali Hills
C. laxum R.Br.	Katki Hills, Belgaum, Dharwar, North and South Kanara, Deccan peninsula in India.
C. tuberosum (Rox b.) Baker	Parts of Konkan to Travancore in Kerala, Eastern Himalaya, Bihar and West Bengal.
C. hreviscapum	Sikkim Himalaya, Belgaum and South Peninsula.

In nature, Moosli propagates vegetatively through its fleshy roots., rarely by seed. The black angular seed is similar to onion seed in appearance. Seed have poor germination and low viability. Seed rates of 3 quintals/hectare is considered optimum for growers.

Chlorophytum is found in soils rich in organic matter. It requires bright sunlight for good growth (Oudhia and Tripathi 2001). Many tribal communities of India use the fresh leaves of Safed Moosli as potherb. (Oudhia and Joshi 2000) but the roots are the useful part of the plant for medicinal purposes. Once the root is harvested reseeding rarely occurs.

Innovative Indian farmers have initiated commercial cultivation of safed moosli. The crop is a popular rainy season (kharif crop) in India and a commercial root harvest can be obtained in 3–4 months. Spacing 30 × 15 cm is optimum. The crop seems adapted to a wide range of conditions. Few insect pests have been reported (Oiudhia 2000b, 2001e). Saponin content may be affected by fungicides and synthetic phyrethroides. Many moosli farms have started selection of cultivars.

There is now a heavy demand of organically grown safed moosli with high saponin content in national and international drug market. In India moosli-based products are coming regularly to the market. The area under this crop is increasing rapidly in India.

References

Bordia, P.C., A. Joshi, and M.M. Simlot. 1995. Safed moosli. p. 429ö451. In:. K.L. Chadha and Rajendra Gupta (eds.), Advances in horticulture Vol. II. Medicinal and aromatic plants. Malhotra Publ. House, New Delhi.

Oudhia, P. 1996. Parthenium: A curse for the bio-diversity of Chhattisgarh Plains. National Reen. R.D. Govt. P.G. College, Mandla, Indian, 30ö32 July. p. 26.

Oudhia, P. 2000a. Can we save the endangered medicinal plant Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) in Indian forests? http://www.herb.com/poudl.html, July–August, 2000.

Oudhia, P. 2000b. Record of Orange Banded Blister Beetle Zonabris pustulata Thunb (Coleoptera: Meloidae ) on Safed Moodli (Chlorophytum borivilianum L.). Insect Environment, 6(3):138.

Oudhia, P. 2001a : My experiences with wonder crop Safed Moosli. In: Souvenir. International Seminar on Medicinal Plants and Quality Standardization, VHERDS, Chennai, India, 9–10 June.

Oudhia, P. 2001 b. Problems perceived by Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) growers of Chhattisgarh (India) region: A study. J. Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sci. 22/4A & 23/1A:396–399.

Oudhia, P. 2001c. My experiences with worldās top ten Indian medicinal plants : Glimpses of research at farmerās field in Chhattisgarh (India). In: Abstract. Workshop ö cum ö Seminar on Sustainable Agriculture for 21^st Century, IGAU, Raipur, India, 20–21 Jan: 46.

Oudhia, P. 2001e. Medicinal insects of kharif crops and weeds of Chhattisgarh (India). In : Abstr. VII National Science Conference, Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Samitee, Directorate of Cropping System Research, Meerut, India 12–14 April.

Oudhia, P. and B.S. Joshi. 2000. The decreasing availability of natural medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh: A study. In: Abstr.. VI National Science Conference, Mahatma Gandhi Gramoday Chitrakut Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakut, India : 18.

Oudhia, P. and R.S. Tripathi. 1999. Scope of cultivation of important medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh plains. p. 71–78. In: Proc. National conference on Health care and Development of Herbal Medicines, IGAU, Raipur (India), 29-30 Aug. 1997: 71–78.

Oudhia, P. and R.S. Tripathi. (2001). The possibilities of commercial cultivation of rare medicinal plants in Chhattisgarh (India). VII National Science Conference, Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Samitee, Directorate of Cropping System Research, Meerut, India, 12–14 April.

Internet Resources

My experiments with the wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): Some useful observations of recently completed experiments at SAMPDA'S research farm http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/146_musli.html

Are two crops of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) possible in a year? http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/300_multiple_musli_crops.html

Selection of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) planting material: Are we in right direction? http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/230_rightdirection.html

My experiments and experiences with wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): Recent visit to leading Musli farm of India http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/174_muslifarms.html

Planting technique of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) tubers: Some useful tips http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/232_technique.html

Possible uses of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophylum boriviliamum). http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/201_safed.html

New record of Swarming caterpillar Spodoptera mauritia Boisd. (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) on Safed Musli (Chlorohytum sp.) In Chhattisgarh, India http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/222_catapillar.html

My experiences and experiments with wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): The details of recent visits to Safed Musli fields of different parts of India http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/297_recent_musli_visits.html

National Workshop on Indian Medicinal and Aromatic Plants with special emphasis on Safed Musli, the Millennium Crop: My observations and views http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/194_workshop.html

Harvesting, Processing and Trading of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): My research and experience http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/112_harvestingmoosli.html

The possibilities of establishing Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) as Indoor ornamental plant http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/323_safed_indoors.html

My Experiences and Experiments with the wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/110_experiements.html

Allelopathic potential of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum species): Some preliminary observations http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/419_potential.html

Potential markets of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chorophytum borivilianum): Some new observations http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/390_safed.html

Weed management in commercial cultivation of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): My experiences http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/414_cultivation.html

Interactions with the traditional healers and natives of Bhopalpatnam region, Chhattisgarh, India having rich traditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs insects and other animals http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/121_bhopalpatnam.html

Importance of Standard Agronomical practices in commercial cultivation of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum): My experiences. http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/408_standardpractice.html

Possibilities of utilizing Fly Ash in commercial cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops: My experiences and experiments http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/307_fly_ash.html

Traditional medicinal knowledge about specific soil on which wonder herb Safed Musli (Chlorophytum sp.) Grows, in Chhattisgarh, India http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/319_ricesoils.html