Family

Amaryllidaceae

Genus

Curculigo

Common Name

Kali Musli

Plant Figure

Description

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (family Amaryllidaceae) is an endangered rasayana herb which is popularly known as "Kali Musli". The plant is native to India, and holds a special position as a potent adaptogen and aphrodisiac in Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is an important ingredient of many Ayurvedic preparations and is considered to have aphrodisiac, immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. The plant is also considered as an important component of various herbal preparations of the Chinese and Kampo medicine. In China, C. orchioides has a long history of medicinal use, and it has been recorded in historical documents. Curculigo glycoside and orcinol glucoside are the main medicinal components of Curculigo. C. orchioides is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, southern Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou.