Musta

Botanical name: Cyperus rotundus, Cyperaceae

Other names: Motha (H), Korai (T), Nut Grass (E), Xiang fu (C)

Botany: Musta is a perennial, herbaceous sedge attaining a height of up to 75 cm, with elongated, slender stolons interspersed by aromatic tubers, 1-3 cm in length, the cortex black, the medulla reddish-white. The leaves are shorter than the stem, glabrous, linear, dark green, finely acuminate, flat, with a single vein. The flowers are borne in spikes arranged as simple or compound umbels, each spike in turn comprised of several spikelets containing small flowers with a reddish-brown husk. The fruit is an obovoid, grayish-brown, three-angled nut that is black when mature. Musta is stated to be native to India, but is now found all over the world and is considered by many to be an invasive weed of wet, marshy places (Warrier et al 1994, 296; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 2638-39).

Part used: Tuber.

Dravyaguna:

• Rasa: tikta, kashaya

• Vipaka: katu

• Virya: shita

• Karma: dipanapachana, purishasangrahaniya, jvaraghna, chedana, krimiaghna, mutravirechana, ashmaribhedana, kusthaghna, raktasthambhana, sandhaniya, artavajanana, stanyajanana, sandhaniya, vedanasthapana, medhya, Kaphapittahara (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 220; Warrier et al 1994, 296-99)

Constituents: Musta contains an essential that provides for the characteristic odor and taste of the herb, comprised mostly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, epoxides, ketones, monoterpenes and aliphatic alcohols. Sesquiterpenes include ?-selinene, isocurcumenol, nootkatone, aristolone, isorotundene, cypera-2,4(15)-diene, and norrotundene, as well as the sesquiterpene alkaloids rotundines A-C. Other constituents include the ketone cyperadione, and the monoterpenes cineole, camphene and limonene. Musta has also been shown to contain miscellaneous triterpenes including oleanolic acid and ?-sitosterol, as well as flavonoids, sugars and minerals (Ha et al 2002; Williamson 2002, 122-23; Sonwa and Konig 2001; Jeong et al 2000; Kapoor 1990, 292).

Medical research:

Antidiarrheal: Researchers studied the effect of a decoction of Cyperus rotundus on adherence (in vitro) and enterotoxin production (in vivo) in enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic E. coli. Results indicate that while the extract did not prevent adherence, it did significantly inhibit toxin production by the different E. coli strains (Daswani et al 2001).

Antimalarial: Among 49 Tanzanian plant extracts tested for any possible in vitro antimalarial activity using the multidrug resistant K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum, the most active extracts included one derived from the tubers of Cyperus rotundus (Weenen et al 1990).

Obesity: Thirty obese patients given an extract of Musta over a 90 day period were found to have experienced a reduction in weight, as well as a similar reduction in serum triglycerides and cholesterol (Williamson 2002, 123).

Sedative: Four sesquiterpenes (beta-selinene, isocurcumenol, nootkatone and aristolone) and one triterpene (oleanolic acid) isolated from an ethylacetate fraction of the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus were tested for their ability to modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A))-benzodiazepine receptor function in rat cerebrocortical membranes. Among these compounds, only the sesquiterpene isocurcumenol was found to act as a benzodiazepine receptor agonist, allosterically modulating GABAnergic neurotransmission via the enhancement of endogenous receptor ligand binding (Ha et al 2002).

Antioxidant: Researchers studied the effect of a methanolic extract of the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus could modulate NO and O^2- production in a murine macrophage cell line. The extract inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner in the macrophage cell line stimulated with interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide. The inhibition of NO production by the extract was due to the suppression of iNOS protein, as well as iNOS mRNA expression. The extract also suppressed the production of O^2- by phorbol ester-stimulated macrophage cells in dose and time dependent manner (Seo et al 2001).

Toxicity: The LD₅₀ of an ethanolic extract was determined to be 1500 mg/kg (Williamson 2002, 124).

Indications: Nausea and vomiting, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal parasites, fever, malaria, cough, bronchitis, renal and vesical calculi, urinary tenesmus, skin diseases, wounds, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, deficient lactation.

Contraindications: Vatakopa, constipation.

Medicinal uses: Musta is an important medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine, a bitter tasting aromatic herb that acts to enkindle agni, dispel ama, and relieve intestinal spasm. Overall, Musta helps to normalize excessive secretion, and in this way tends to have a constipating activity that makes it particularly effective in diarrhea. While it is used in formulation to treat dysentery, it is particularly useful after initial treatment, used over the medium term to restore digestive health and combat any lingering infection. It is also used in non-infective digestive disorders however, marked by intestinal spasm, bloating, and a tendency to loose motions. The Chakradatta recommends a variety of formulations containing Musta in the treatment of diarrhea, depending on the severity and associated symptoms. For severe diarrhea Musta is combined with herbs such as Kutaja, Bilva, Dadima (Punica granatum), and Dhataki (Woodfordia fructicosa), along with antimicrobial botanicals such as Katuka, Guduchi, and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), and antispasmodic herbs such as Vacha and Ela (Elettaria cardamomum). For diarrhea with symptoms of burning sensation and thirst, Musta is combined with cooling botanicals such as Chandana, Dhanyaka (Coriandrum sativum) and Balaka (Coleus vettiveroides). In diarrhea with symptoms of ama, in which the bowel movements have a foul odour and are accompanied by severe colic, Musta is combined with botanicals such as Haritaki, Shunthi, Hingu and Pippali. In the treatment of intestinal parasites the Chakradatta recommends Mustadi kvatha, comprised of a decoction of Musta, Mushakarni (Merremia emarginata), Triphala, Shigru (Moringa pterygosperma) and Devadaru, with the pastes of Pippali and Vidanga (Sharma 2002, 110). In the treatment of cough, bronchitis and asthma Musta can be combined with botanicals such as Vasaka, Haridra, Vibhitaki, Pippali, Kantakari, and Pushkaramula (Inula helenium). In the treatment of inflammatory joint disease (amavata) Musta is used as an adjunct to herbs such as Guggulu, Guduchi, Chitraka, Shunthi (Zingiber officinalis) and Triphala, to relieve pain and enkindle agni. In the treatment of diabetes Musta is used in conjunction with herbs such as Triphala, Devadaru, Guduchi, Guggulu, Haridra and Shilajitu. The antispasmodic properties of the root also make in helpful in gynecological disorders such as premenstrual tension, dysmenorrhea, endometritis, all more or less attended by loose motions or diarrhea. For this purpose Musta can be combined with Shatavari or the Chinese herb Dang gui (Angelica sinensis). Musta is also taken internally and applied topically as a fresh plant poultice as a galactagogue.

Dosage:

• Churna: 3-5 g, b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Kvatha: 1:4, 30-90 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Tincture: dried root, 1:3, 50% alcohol, 1-5 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.