Zing Research

1. Chlorophytum borivilianum  

Botanical Description - Macroscopic

Latin name   -Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. & F.
Family          - Liliaceae
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 (Kumar & Subramanium, 1986)
Floral Formula - + P (3+3), A (3+3) G(3)

Karaveeradi Vargah : 4/375
"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
 
Vividhaushadhi Vargah : 1/ 87
“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.
  
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.

 

BHAVAPRAKASHA

Nighantu Part – 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

Moolakadi Vargah : 116-117
“ MUSALEE MADHURA SHEETA VRISHYA PUSHTIBALAPRADAê
PICHHILA KAPHADA PITTA DAHA SHRAMAHARA PARAêê
MUSALEE SYADDVIDHA PROKTA SHVETA CHAPARASANGYAKA ê
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

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.


PRIYA NIGHANTU

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.

 

b.   Shilajit

Many researchers claim that Shilajit exuding from the rocks of mountains is basically derived from vegetative source.  But the exact source of the origin of Shilajit is still under controversy.

There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of Shilajit:

• Early work on Shilajit showed that it is mainly composed of humus- the characteristic constituent of soils- together with other organic components.
• Some workers think that Euphorbia royleana Boiss. plants are responsible for origin of Shilajit, because this plant is very rich latex.
• The chemical analysis of Shilajit by researchers at Bananas Hindu University in India revealed that humification of some resin/latex bearing plants is the most likely source of Shilajit.
• The recent discoveries suggest that the humification of resin-bearing plants was responsible for the major organic mass of Shilajit. And chemical analysis showed that about 80% of the humus components are present in Shilajit.
• Another recent research claims that the mosses like species of Barbula, Fissidenc, Minium, Thuidium and species of Liverworts like Asterella, Dumortiera, Marchantia, Pellia, Plagiochasma and Stephenrencella-Anthoceros were present in the vicinity of Shilajit exuding rocks and these bryophytes are responsible for formation of Shilajit. The bryophytes reveal occurrence of minerals and metals in their tissue such as copper, silver, zinc, iron, lead etc, which are similar to the elements present in Shilajit.
• The composition of Shilajit is influenced by factors such as the plant-species involved, the geological nature of the rock, local temperature profiles, humidity and altitude.

The therapeutic actions of the raw material vary by the region it is harvested from. There are other substances that contain Humic and Fulvic acids, but true Shilajit has a very important therapeutic, bioactive ingredient that is not present in other "Shilajit-like" substances. The authenticity and therapeutic quality of Shilajit is identified by the inclusion of oxygenated dibenzo alpha pyrones. While there are several areas that the raw material is collected from the highest levels of therapeutic ingredients come from specific areas in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal at 10-12,000 feet above sea level. Historic records report that “sacred” mountains produce the best Shilajit. The processing of the raw Shilajit is very important as it contains free radicals and may also contain mycotoxins and fungal toxins. The processing needs to remove the free radicals, Polymeric Quinone radicals, toxins, mycotoxins and inactive ingredients.

References

Joshi, G. C., K. C. Tiwari, N. K. Pande and G. Pande. 1994. Bryophytes, the source of the origin of Shilajit – a new hypothesis. B.M.E.B.R. 15(1-4): 106-111.

Ghosal, S., B. Mukherjee and S. K. Bhattacharya. 1995. Ind. Journal of Indg. Med. 17(1): 1-11.

Ghosal, S., J. P. Reddy and V. K. Lal. 1976. Shilajit I.: chemical constituents. Journ. Pharm. Sci. (USA) 65(5): 772-73.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a well-known herb, containing a variety of compounds as active ingredients. It is an extremely versatile herb with multiple applications. This amazing herb is said to contain more than a 100 phytochemical constituents. Amongst them are a lot of Furostanol Saponins and Steroidal Saponins.

Modern day life with its high levels of pressure, stress and pollution, saps the energy and vitality in our bodies. The first victim in our bodies seems inevitably to be Testosterone levels. Ageing, along with pressures and stress, reduces our body's capacity to produce Testosterone, leading to lowering of libido. Immune functions of the body also get affected.

Fenugreek is a natural solution for boosting Testosterone levels and increasing libido and immune functions.

Fenugreek contains Protodioscin, Pseudo Protodioscin, Gracillin, Protogracillin, Diosgenin, Dioscin and many other saponins and sapogenins. Many of these other saponins are not identified yet.

All the above compounds are well known Testosterone Boosters and Libido enhancers.

There is a huge amount of history, studies and references as shown below which have shown without doubt that in addition to qualities like sugar control, lipid control, increase in lactation etc., Fenugreek is also a potent libido enhancer and testosterone booster. The libido enhancement happens both for women and men and is well recorded.

 In addition to boosting Testosterone it also acts like Testosterone by binding to the Testosterone receptor sites and creating Testosterone like activity. So it's activity is two fold. In this manner it effectively boosts libido and can increase muscle mass .

Historical or traditional use

A wide range of uses were found for fenugreek in ancient times. Medicinally it was used for the treatment of abscesses, arthritis, bronchitis and digestive problems. Traditional Chinese herbalists used it for kidney problems and conditions affecting the male reproductive tract. Fenugreek was, and remains, a food and a spice commonly eaten in many parts of the world.

Active constituents

Fenugreek seeds contain alkaloids (mainly trigonelline) and protein high in  L-tryptophan. Its steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, and neotigogenin) and mucilaginous fiber are thought to account for many of the beneficial effects of fenugreek. The steroidal saponins are thought to inhibit cholesterol absorption and synthesis,² while the fiber may help lower blood sugar levels.³ One human study found that fenugreek can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels in people with moderate atherosclerosis and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.  Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that fenugreek helps improve blood sugar control in patients with insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.^{5 6 7} Double-blind trials have shown that fenugreek lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood,^{8 9} This has also been found in a controlled clinical trial with diabetic patients with elevated cholesterol.¹⁰ Generally, fenugreek does not lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.

with one meal. As a tincture, 3–4 ml of fenugreek can be taken up to three times per day.

Are there any side effects or interactions?

Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal upset and nausea. Otherwise, fenugreek is extremely safe. Due to the potential uterine stimulating properties of fenugreek, which may cause miscarriages, fenugreek should not be used during pregnancy.

References

1. Escot N. Fenugreek. ATOMS 1994/5;Summer:7–12.

2. Sauvaire Y, Ribes G, Baccou JC, Loubatieres-Mariani MM. Implication of steroid saponins and sapogenins in the hypocholesterolemic effect of fenugreek. Lipids 1991;26:191–7.

3. Ribes G, Sauvaire Y, Da Costa C, et al. Antidiabetic effects of subfractions from fenugreek seeds in diabetic dogs. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1986;182:159–66.

4. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L) on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostagland Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 1997;56:379–84.

5. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 1990;44:301–6.

6. Madar Z, Abel R, Samish S, Arad J. Glucose-lowering effect of fenugreek in non-insulin dependent diabetics. Eur J Clin Nutr 1988;42:51–4.