Purity strength and trace elements contents evaluation of Chlorophytum borivillianum for export purpose

Safed Musli grows wild in thick forests and is a traditional medicinal plant. Mainly its tuberous roots are used in Ayurvedic medicines. Safed Musli has been named in the Atharva Veda as one of the divine herbs, offering cure for many ailments and health related problems. Because of its significant medicinal properties, Chlorophytum borivillianum, a variety of Safed Musli has got today maximum demand and commercial value. There are around 256 varieties of Chlorophytum in the world; in India, we have around 17 of them, of which, borivillianum has got a good market demand all over the world especially in the Gulf countries and the West. It would not be an exaggeration to call Safed Musli a unique, potent and versatile medicine discovered by the genius of ancient India. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phenol, resins, polysaccharides etc. Safed Musli is an important ingredient of more than a hundred Ayurvedic, Allopathic, Homeopathic and Unani medicinal preparations. It is one of the chief ingredients of Ayurvedic “Chyawanaprash”. As a (protein rich) food supplement, there is a tremendously growing International demand for processed Safed Musli. Here we report indirect value addition of the raw material and also the processed products by incorporating some measurements during the time of handling and processing of raw material and Phytoformulation of herbal drug for purity and the strength. The present study also indicates towards assessing the metal contaminants as per AYUSH and WHO recommendations which has become mandatory for export purpose.