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Lata Kasturi

Abelmoschus moschatus

Lata Kasturi (Abelmoschus moschatus) is a plant drug, also called Latakasturika and Muskadana. Musk-like aromatic compounds (ambrettolide) are lipophilic with good transdermal absorption. Oral bioavailability enhanced by co-administration with fatty meals. Essential oil components are rapidly absorbed through inhalation and skin.

Key facts
Botanical nameAbelmoschus moschatus
FamilyMalvaceae · other entries in this family
OrderMalvales
Also known asLata Kasturi, LataKasturi
Taxon identifiersGBIF 8312665 · Wikidata Q2086536 · NCBI Taxonomy 1170222
Names in other languages
Sanskritलताकस्तूरिका (latākastūrikā)
Hindiमुस्कदाना (muskadānā)
Tamilகாட்டுக்கஸ்தூரி, வெற்றிலைக்கஸ்தூரி

Sources: MMPND "Sorting Abelmoschus names" gives for A. moschatus, Hindi: "Jangli bhenda, Latākastūri, मसक दाना Mushk daanaa"; efloraofindia's Abelmoschus moschatus page gives Hindi/Bengali/Gujarati "Muskdana".; MMPND "Sorting Abelmoschus names", A. moschatus, Sanskrit: "Latakasturika, लताकस्तूरिका Latākastūrikā".; MMPND "Sorting Abelmoschus names", A. moschatus, Tamil வெற்றிலைக்கஸ்தூரி Veṟṟilaikkastūri.; MMPND "Sorting Abelmoschus names", A. moschatus, Tamil: "காட்டுக்கஸ்தூரி Kāṭṭukkastūri, Kasturi vendaikkayvirai, Varttilaikasthuri, வெற்றிலைக்கஸ்தூரி Veṟṟilaikkastūri".. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.

  • 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 2Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 9Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishLata Kasturi

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Madhura, TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, SnigdhaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Capsules, Essential oil, Taila (medicated oil), Lepa (topical paste), Infusion

Standard Dosage: 1-3 g seed powder per day; 2-5 drops essential oil for aromatherapy; topical application as needed

Optimal Timing: Morning for internal use as adaptogen; evening for aromatherapy and relaxation; topical use as needed

Storage: Store essential oil in amber glass bottles at 15-25 deg C, tightly sealed. Seed powder in airtight containers below 25 deg C, protected from moisture. Medicated oils in cool, dark conditions.

Marker Compounds: Ambrettolide, Farnesol, Farnesyl acetate, Decyl acetate, Myricetin, Quercetin-3-glucoside

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1

  1. Zhou P, Hao Z, Xu W and others. 2022. Efficacy and safety of Abelmoschus moschatus capsules combined with tripterygium glycoside tablets on diabetic nephropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysisFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 36172199 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.936678

Other clinical studies and reviews2

  1. Li J, Ye GY, Liu HL and others. 2020. Complete chloroplast genomes of three important species, Abelmoschus moschatus, A. manihot and A. sagittifolius: Genome structures, mutational hotspots, comparative and phylogenetic analysis in MalvaceaePloS one. PMID 33237925 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0242591
  2. Alam F, Shafique Z, Amjad ST and others. 2019. Enzymes inhibitors from natural sources with antidiabetic activity: A reviewPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 30417583 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6211

Laboratory and animal studies9

  1. Singh P, Ansari N, Agrawal M and others. 2026. Elevated ozone reprograms secondary metabolism in Abelmoschus moschatus pods, enhancing antidiabetic and antiobesity bioactivitiesPlant cell reports. PMID 42622685 · doi:10.1007/s00299-026-03932-4
  2. Singh P, Ansari N, Mishra AK and others. 2024. Growth, ultrastructural and physiological characteristics of Abelmoschus cytotypes under elevated ozone stress: a study on ploidy-specific responsesFunctional plant biology : FPB. PMID 38310884 · doi:10.1071/FP23229
  3. Chowdary VT, Kumar VM, Varma PK and others. 2022. New record of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in Desmodium laxiflorum and association of bhendi yellow vein mosaic betasatellite in Abelmoschus moschatus in Andhra Pradesh, IndiaVirusdisease. PMID 35493751 · doi:10.1007/s13337-021-00749-5
  4. Gowthami R , Sharma N , Gangopadhyay KK and others. 2021. Cryopreservation of pollen of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. subsp. moschatus as an aid to overcome asynchronous flowering for wide hybridization with cultivated Okra [A. esculentus (L.) Moench]Cryo letters. PMID 35363843
  5. Amarasiri SS, Attanayake AP, Arawwawala LDAM and others. 2020. Acute and 28-Day Repeated-Dose Oral Toxicity Assessment of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. in Healthy Wistar RatsEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 32655655 · doi:10.1155/2020/1359050
  6. Pawar AT, Vyawahare NS. 2016. Antiurolithiatic activity of Abelmoschus moschatus seed extracts against zinc disc implantation-induced urolithiasis in ratsJournal of basic and clinical pharmacy. PMID 27057124 · doi:10.4103/0976-0105.177704
  7. Dokka MK, Seva L, Davuluri SP. 2015. Isolation and purification of trypsin inhibitors from the seeds of Abelmoschus moschatus LApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 25701144 · doi:10.1007/s12010-015-1542-1
  8. Molfetta I, Ceccarini L, Macchia M and others. 2013. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. and Abelmoschus moschatus Medik: seeds production and analysis of the volatile compoundsFood chemistry. PMID 23768323 · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.02.030
  9. Gul MZ, Bhakshu LM, Ahmad F and others. 2011. Evaluation of Abelmoschus moschatus extracts for antioxidant, free radical scavenging, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities using in vitro assaysBMC complementary and alternative medicine. PMID 21849051 · doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-64

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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