Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Talamuli

Curculigo orchioides

Talamuli (Curculigo orchioides) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Mucilaginous polysaccharides provide local GI effects (demulcent, prebiotic) rather than systemic absorption. Diosgenin derivatives are lipophilic and benefit from lipid-based formulations. Traditional Ghrita preparation enhances lipophilic constituent bioavailability by 2-3x.

Key facts
Botanical nameCurculigo orchioides
FamilyHypoxidaceae
OrderAsparagales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2853024 · Wikidata Q5194664 · NCBI Taxonomy 681286

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishTalamuli

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)MadhuraPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Guru, SnigdhaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Swarasa (fresh juice), Capsule, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Leha/Avaleha (confection)

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g tuber powder per day; 10-20 mL swarasa twice daily; 50-100 mL kwatha twice daily; 500-1000 mg extract capsule twice daily

Bioavailability: Steroidal saponins and sapogenins show moderate oral bioavailability (20-35%), enhanced by milk or ghee co-administration. Mucilaginous polysaccharides provide local GI effects (demulcent, prebiotic) rather than systemic absorption. Diosgenin derivatives are lipophilic and benefit from lipid-based formulations. Traditional Ghrita preparation enhances lipophilic constituent bioavailability by 2-3x.

Optimal Timing: With warm milk at bedtime for Vajikarana action; morning dose with ghee for Rasayana (rejuvenative) effects

Standardized Extract: Rhizome extract (8:1 in 60% ethanol), standardized to NLT 2% curculigoside by HPLC; total saponins NLT 10% by gravimetric method; mucilage content 15-25% for quality characterization

Shelf Life: 12 months for swarasa (refrigerated with preservative); 24 months for churna; 36 months for standardized extract capsules; 12 months for Ghrita

Storage: Swarasa: refrigerate 2-8 deg C. Churna: below 25 deg C in airtight containers with desiccant — hygroscopic. Capsules: standard storage below 25 deg C. Ghrita: glass jars at room temperature, protect from light.

Marker Compounds: Curculigoside, Curculigoside B, Curculigosaponin C, Curculigine, Diosgenin, Yuccagenin, Beta-sitosterol

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-60% ethanol)
  • Fresh tuber juice extraction
  • Traditional Ghrita preparation (tuber paste cooked in ghee with decoction)
  • Spray-drying of aqueous extract for powder form

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews2

  1. Nie Y, Dong X, He Y and others. 2013. Medicinal plants of genus Curculigo: traditional uses and a phytochemical and ethnopharmacological reviewJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 23562803 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.03.066
  2. Chauhan NS, Sharma V, Thakur M and others. 2010. Curculigo orchioides: the black gold with numerous health benefitsZhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine. PMID 20619136 · doi:10.3736/jcim20100703

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Hu YY, Zhong RH, Guo XJ and others. 2023. Jinfeng pills ameliorate premature ovarian insufficiency induced by cyclophosphamide in rats and correlate to modulating IL-17A/IL-6 axis and MEK/ERK signalsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36775079 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116242
  2. Wang J, Yang J, Tang Z and others. 2023. Curculigo orchioides polysaccharide COP70-1 stimulates osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells by activating the BMP and Wnt signaling pathwaysInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 37473884 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125879
  3. Kushalan S, D'Souza LC, Aloysius K and others. 2022. Toxicity Assessment of Curculigo orchioides Leaf Extract Using Drosophila melanogaster: A Preliminary StudyInternational journal of environmental research and public health. PMID 36429955 · doi:10.3390/ijerph192215218
  4. Liu Y, Guo Y, Gong S and others. 2022. Discrimination of Curculigo orchioides Rhizoma and Curculigo glabrescens Rhizoma using stable isotope and mineral element analyses coupled with chemometricsScientific reports. PMID 35869256 · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-16851-7
  5. Pham T, Phan NNDH, Tran VG and others. 2022. Analysis of a Major Phenolic Glucoside and Biochemistry Compounds from Curculigo Orchioides GaertnReports of biochemistry & molecular biology. PMID 35291616 · doi:10.52547/rbmb.10.4.565
  6. Chen L, Qu B, Wang H and others. 2021. The effect of curculigo orchioides (Xianmao) on kidney energy metabolism and the related mechanism in rats based on metabolomicsFood science & nutrition. PMID 34760250 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.2573
  7. Deng XL, Zheng RR, Han ZZ and others. 2021. New chlorophenolic glycoside from Curculigo orchioides and their activities on 5α-reductaseJournal of Asian natural products research. PMID 32131631 · doi:10.1080/10286020.2020.1731800
  8. Murali VP, Kuttan G. 2016. Curculigo orchioides Gaertn Effectively Ameliorates the Uro- and Nephrotoxicities Induced by Cyclophosphamide Administration in Experimental AnimalsIntegrative cancer therapies. PMID 26424815 · doi:10.1177/1534735415607319
  9. Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang Y and others. 2012. Curculigoside isolated from Curculigo orchioides prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced dysfunction and oxidative damage in calvarial osteoblastsActa biochimica et biophysica Sinica. PMID 22427460 · doi:10.1093/abbs/gms014
  10. Hong BN, You YO, Kang TH. 2011. Curculigo orchioides, natural compounds for the treatment of noise-induced hearing loss in miceArchives of pharmacal research. PMID 21544731 · doi:10.1007/s12272-011-0416-5

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