Safed Musli an Indian Plant With Nutritional Properties
October 14, 2008
‘Safed Musli’ is an Indian plant which is botanically equated to Chlorophytum borivilianum or Chlorophytum arundinaceum. This plant has been attributed to be a ‘Divya Aushadhi’ in Ayurveda, the oldest written system of medicine. Safed Musli has some important phytochemical constituents which make it very popular and useful for a nutritional dietary regimen in body builders and sports person.
Chemical Constituents of Interest:
- Steroidal Saponins
There are number of beneficial phyto-constituents or phytochemical substances that have muscle building benefits which are present in abundance in Safed Musli. The major proportion are steroidal saponins. Steroidal saponins of Safed Musli have a steroidal chemical structure which is very similar to the chemical structure of male anabolic hormone testosterone. The steroidal saponins are rapidly absorbed in the body and are converted to male hormone testosterone which assists in building up muscles and gaining masculine power.
- Fructans and fucto-oligosaccharides
The other important constituent of Safed Musli is Inulin type fructans. Researchers from Dr. H.S Gour University, India and University for Bodenkultur, Vienna have reported that presence of nutraceutical components viz. fructans and fructo-oligosaccharides in Safed Musli. Fructans improve calcium absorption in bone and provide important fiber and roughage to the body, thus providing a perfect blend for a healthy diet. Fructans are also very low in calorie and help in prevention of diabetes induced problems. Inluni supplementation also fulfills the urgent energy requirements to overcome muscle fatigue during body-building processes.
- Beta sitosterol, stigmasterol and hecogenin
These are also very important naturally occurring chemical compound that resemble in structure to testosterone and help in body building process.
Safed Musli has a prominent anabolic effect, and when taken as a dietary supplement at a dose of 5-10 gm daily (dry root powder) or 50-100 mg of extract prior to exercise, the drug can be beneficial in improving the muscle strength building process.
Comments