Curculigo, Xian Mao 仙茅
Xian Mao (TCM)
Talpatri, Krishna Musali, Sveta Musali (‘Black Musali’) (Ayurveda)
Musali Siyah (Unani)
Nilappanan Kizhangu (Siddha)
Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION
Botanical name:
Curculigo orchioides
Parts used:
Rhizome
Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent, Slightly Toxic
Classifications:
Uses:
1. Strengthens the Kidneys, Tonifies the Yang:
-Impotence, Incontinence
2. Clears Cold and Damp, Strengthens Bones, Eases Pain:
-Arthritis
3. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Wheezing:
Dose:
Powder: 1–3 grams. Taken with milk in Ayurveda to correct its heat.
Comment:
Preparation:
Correctives:

Main Combinations:
Curculigo Xian Mao is often combined with Asparagus adscendens root (White Musali) in India. These are known as Black and White Musali, Asparagus nourishing Yin, and Curculigo stimulating Yang. Sometimes Chlorophytum arundinaceum is listed as Black Musali.
1. Impotence, Spermatorrhea, Lower Back pain and weakness, Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
2. Impotence, Aphrodisiac:
i. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
ii. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
iii. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
iv. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
3. Female Debility:
i. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
ii. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
4. Cold-damp pain, cold pain in the lower back and legs, Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
5. Lower Back Pain from Kidney deficiency, Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
6. To warm and strengthen the Yang:
i. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
ii. Curculigo Xian Mao with … available in PRO version
7. For the Five Overstrains and Seven Damages, to improve Eyesight and increase strength: … available in PRO version
Cautions:
1. Not used for Heat from Yin deficiency or those with Fire (strong Heat).
2. Avoid long-term use and overdose. Maximum daily dose in decoction is 12 grams
Antidote:
Rhubarb (Da Huang) and Mirabilite (Mang Xiao) have been used for negative effects of overdose.
Main Preparations used:
GENERAL / REVIEW:
–Medicinal plants of genus Curculigo: traditional uses and a phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review.
–Improvement of penile erection, sperm count and seminal fructose levels in vivo and nitric oxide release in vitro by ayurvedic herbs.
–[Pharmacologic study of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn].
ANTIOXIDANT
–Antioxidative and anti-proliferative potential of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn in oxidative stress induced cytotoxicity: In vitro, ex vivo and in silico studies.
–Antioxidative phenols and phenolic glycosides from Curculigo orchioides.
ANTI-ALLERGY
–Mast cell stabilization and antihistaminic potentials of Curculigo orchioides rhizomes.
ASTHMA
–Evaluation of Antiasthmatic Activity of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Rhizomes.
NEUROPROTECTIVE
–Protective effect of curculigo orchioides extract on cyclophosphamide-induced neurotoxicity in murine model.
–Neuroprotective effects of curculigoside against NMDA-induced neuronal excitoxicity in vitro.
LEARNING & MEMORY
–Ameliorative effects of curculigoside from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn on learning and memory in aged rats.
HEARING LOSS
–Curculigo orchioides, natural compounds for the treatment of noise-induced hearing loss in mice.
HEPATPROTECTIVE
–GC-MS analysis of curculigo orchiodes and medicinal herbs with cytotoxic, hepatoprotective attributes of ethanolic extract from Indian origin.
–Antioxidant activity ofcurculigo orchioides in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in rats.
NEPHROPROTECTIVE
–Curculigo orchioides Gaertn Effectively Ameliorates the Uro- and Nephrotoxicities Induced by Cyclophosphamide Administration in Experimental Animals.
KIDNEY METABOLISM
–The effect of curculigo orchioides (Xianmao) on kidney energy metabolism and the related mechanism in rats based on metabolomics.
SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
–Effect of Curculigo orchioides on hyperglycemia-induced oligospermia and sexual dysfunction in male rats.
–Improvement of penile erection, sperm count and seminal fructose levels in vivo and nitric oxide release in vitro by ayurvedic herbs.
–A comparative study on aphrodisiac activity of some ayurvedic herbs in male albino rats.
–Effect of Curculigo orchioides rhizomes on sexual behaviour of male rats.
ESTROGENIC EFFECT
–Evaluation of estrogenic activity of alcoholic extract of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides.
DIABETES
–Exploring the anti-diabetic potential of Australian Aboriginal and Indian Ayurvedic plant extracts using cell-based assays.
OSTEOPOROSIS
–Curculigoside Ameliorates Bone Loss by Influencing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate in Aging Mice.
–Curculigoside promotes osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs to prevent ovariectomized-induced osteoporosis.
–Curculigoside attenuates oxidative stress and osteoclastogenesis via modulating Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells.
–Curculigoside Protects against Excess-Iron-Induced Bone Loss by Attenuating Akt-FoxO1-Dependent Oxidative Damage to Mice and Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells.
–Therapeutic Anabolic and Anticatabolic Benefits of Natural Chinese Medicines for the Treatment of Osteoporosis.
–Structural elucidation and anti-osteoporosis activities of polysaccharides obtained from Curculigo orchioides.
–A Network Pharmacology Approach to Determine the Active Components and Potential Targets of Curculigo Orchioides in the Treatment of Osteoporosis.
–An O-acetyl-glucomannan from the rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides: Structural characterization and anti-osteoporosis activity in vitro.
–Antiosteoporotic activity of phenolic compounds from Curculigo orchioides.
–Curculigo orchioides, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, prevents bone loss in ovariectomized rats.
ARTHRITIS
–Curculigoside exerts significant anti‑arthritic effects in vivo and in vitro via regulation of the JAK/STAT/NF‑κB signaling pathway.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS
–Curculigoside inhibits ferroptosis in ulcerative colitis through the induction of GPX4.
IMMUNOSTIMULANT
–Curculigoside augments cell-mediated immune responses in metastatic tumor-bearing animals.
–Immunostimulatory effect of methanol extract of Curculigo orchioides on immunosuppressed mice.
–Immunostimulant principles from Curculigo orchioides.
CYTOTOXIC
–GC-MS analysis of curculigo orchiodes and medicinal herbs with cytotoxic, hepatoprotective attributes of ethanolic extract from Indian origin.
CANCER
–Antioxidative and anti-proliferative potential of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn in oxidative stress induced cytotoxicity: In vitro, ex vivo and in silico studies.
–Triterpene glycosides from Curculigo orchioides and their cytotoxic activity.
ENHANCEMENT OF CHEMOTHERAPY
–Enhancement of cancer chemotherapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide by Curculigo orchioides Gaertn and its ameliorative effects on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress.
AMELIORATES CHEMOTHERAPY TOXICITY
–Curculigo orchioides protects cisplatin-induced cell damage.





