The incredible benefits of nagarmotha (cyperus rotundus)

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Rev i ew A r t i cle

The incredible benefits of Nagarmotha
(Cyperus rotundus)
Hashmat Imam, Zarnigar, Ghulamuddin Sofi1, Seikh Aziz1, Azad Lone2
Departments of Preventive and
Social Medicine, 1Ilmul Advia,
and 2Moalajat, National Institute
of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya,
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Hashmat Imam,
Department of Preventive
and Social Medicine, National
Institute of Unani Medicine,
Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road,
Bengaluru ‑ 560 091, Karnataka,
India.
E‑mail: mdhashmatimam@gmail.
com

ABSTRACT
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus), a cosmopolitan weed, is found in all tropical,
subtropical and temperate regions of the world. In India, it is commonly known as
Nagarmotha and it belongs to the family Cyperacea. The major chemical components of
this herb are essential oils, flavonoids, terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, cyprotene, cyperene,
aselinene, rotundene, valencene, cyperol, gurjunene, trans‑calamenene, cadalene,
cyperotundone, mustakone, isocyperol, acyperone, etc., Research studies have shown
that it possesses various pharmacological activities such as diuretic, carminative,
emmenagogue, anthelminthic, analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, anti‑dysenteric,
antirheumatic activities. An extensive review of the ancient traditional literature and
modern research revealed that the drug has numerous therapeutic actions, several
of which have been established scientifically, which may help the researchers to
set their minds for approaching the utility, efficacy and potency of nagarmotha.

Key words: Cyperus rotundus, cyprotene, flavonoids, Nagarmotha
INTRODUCTION
Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) commonly known as
Nagarmotha is found throughout India. It belongs to the
family Cyperacea. The genus name Cyperus is derived
from Cypeiros, which was the ancient Greek name for the
genus, rotundus is Latin word for round and refers to the
tuber.[1] The family comprises about 104 genera and more
than 5000 species world‑wide, although number vary
greatly due to differing taxonomic concepts of individual
researchers. The largest genus is Carex with about 2000
species world‑wide, followed by Cyperus with about 550
species.[2] It is a pestiferous perennial weed with dark
green glabrous culms, arising from underground tubers.
It is actually a field weed known in all the Southern States
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DOI:
10.4103/2231-0738.124611

as nut grass. The plant produces rhizomes, tubers, basal
bulbs and fibrous roots below ground and rosettes of
leaves, scapes and umbels above ground.[3]

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION
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Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Super division: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Commelinidae
Order: Poales (Cyperales)
Family: Cyperacae
Genus: Cyperus
Species: Rotundus[4]

VERNACULAR NAMES
Arabic: Soad, Soadekufi; Bangali: Nagarmotha;
Burma: Vomonniu; Hindi: Nagarmotha; Malaya:
Mushkezamin; Gujarat: Nagaramothaya; English:
Nut grass; Sanskrit: Chakranksha, Charukesara; Urdu:
Saad kufi.[3,5]

International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases | January-March 2014 | Vol 4| Issue 1

23


Imam, et al.: Cyperus rotundus: An overview

DISTRIBUTION

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Nagarmotha (C. rotundus) is a cosmopolitan weed
found in all tropical, subtropical and temperate
regions of the world. In India, it is common in open,
disturbed habitats to an elevation of about 1800 m.[6]

Ovicidal and larvicidal activity

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
It is a perennial slender herb, stem at base nodosely
thickened and suddenly constricted into a wiry
rhizome, sub solitary, triquetrous at top. Leaves long,
often overlapping stem. Flowers borne in compound
umbel, spikes loosely spicate of 3‑8 spixelets. Seeds in
the form of trigonous nuts, flowers and fruits almost
throughout the year, but chiefly during rainy season.[7]

PHYTOCHEMISTRY
Phytochemical studies has shown that the major
chemical components of this herb are essential oils,
flavonoids, terpenoids, and mono sesquiterpenes. The
plant contains the following chemical constituents;
cyprotene, acopaene, cyperene, aselinene, rotundene,
valencene, cyperol, gurjunene, trans‑calamenene,
dcadinene, gcalacorene, cadalene, amuurolene,
gmuurolene, cyperotundone, mustakone, isocyperol,
acyperone,[8] 4,11‑selinnadien‑3‑one and 1,8‑cineole.[9]
The oil of C. rotundus was mainly composed of cyperol,
α‑cyperene, rotundine, α‑cyperone, α‑copaene,
valerenal, myrtenol, β‑pinene, α‑pinene and α‑Selinene,
sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (Caryophyllene).[10,11]

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
Diuretic, carminative, emmenagogue, anthelminthic,
stomachic, stimulant, analgesic, hypotensive,
anti‑inflammatory, antidysenteric, antirheumatic.[12]

THERAPEUTIC USES
The essential oil (0.5-0.9%) from the tuber is used
in perfumery, soap making and insect repellent
cream.[13] Decoction of rhizome with stem bits of
Tinospora cardifolia and dried ginger is given to treat
malarial fever. Decoction of rhizome with leaves
of Fuaria indica, Swertia chirayita, black pepper and
ginger was used to treat typhoid fever. Rhizome
juice is given in the dose of 25 ml thrice daily for
3 days to treat constipation.[14] The rhizomes are
scraped and pounded with green ginger mixed with
honey prescribed in dysentery, gastric and intestinal
troubles. Fresh tubers are applied to the breast as a
galactagogue.[5]
24

The ovicidal and larvicidal effect of essential oils
extracted from the tubers of C. rotundus was studied
on eggs and fourth instar larvae of Aedes albopictus. The
eggs and larvae were exposed to serial concentration
of the oils ranging from 5 to 150 ppm and kept
under observation for 24 h. Both the oils showed
remarkable ovicidal and larvicidal activities indicated
by EC50 values of<5 ppm and LC50 and LC90 values
of <20 ppm. The results obtained suggested that the
essential oils of these Cyperus species can serve as a
potential source of natural mosquitocidal agents.[15]

Insect repellency activity

Hexane extract of tuber of plant C. rotundus was
screened under laboratory conditions for repellent
activity against mosquito vector Anopheles culicifacies,
Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. The
C. rotundus tuber extract was used to determine their
effect on mosquito vector and comparison with the
N, N‑diethyl‑3‑methylbenzamide. Result obtained
from the laboratory experiment showed that the tuber
extracts are more effective for repellency of the entire
mosquito vector even at a low dose.[16]

Insecticidal activity

A study was conducted to test the phytochemical
screening and insecticidal testing of C. rotundus. It is
more effective than Carbamate and has almost the
same efficacy as that of organophosphate. Result
shows that C. rotundus ranked first because after 10 s,
all the test animals (ants) died (10); Organophosphate
ranked second with 9 ants dead after 10 s; and the last
was Carbamate with seven dead after 12 s.[17]

Antimicrobial activity

The essential oil (0.2%) was extracted by
hydrodistillation from the tubers of C. rotundus
collected from Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The
hydrodistilled oil of C. rotundus was subjected to
GC‑MS analysis. The oil was found to be effective
against various bacterial and fungal strains viz. Bacillus
subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Staphylococcus aureus, Candida parapsilosis, Aspergillus
flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum
in different concentrations.[11]

Antimutagenic and radical scavenging activity

This study evaluates mutagenic and antimutagenic
effects of aqueous, total oligomers flavonoids (TOF),
ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from aerial parts




of C. rotundus with the Salmonella typhimurium assay
system. The different extracts showed no mutagenicity
when tested with Salmonella typhimurium strains
TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1538 either with or
without the S9 mix. On the other hand, our results
showed that all extracts have antimutagenic activity
against aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in TA100 and TA98 assay
system and against sodium azide in TA100 and
TA1535 assay system. TOF, ethyl acetate and methanol
extracts exhibited the highest inhibition level of the
Ames response induced by the indirect mutagen
AFB1.Whereas, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts
exhibited the highest level of protection towards the
direct mutagen, sodium azide, induced response.
In addition to antimutagenic activity, these extracts
showed an important free radical scavenging activity
toward the 1,1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl free radical.
TOF, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed IC50
value of 15, 14 and 20 g/ml, respectively.[18]

Antimalarial activity

Activity guided investigation of C. rotundus tubers led to
the isolation of patchoulenone, caryophyllene or‑oxide,
10,12‑peroxycalamenene and 4,7‑dimethyl‑l‑tetralone.
The antimalarial activities of these compounds are
in the range of ECso 10‑4-10‑6 M, with the novel
ndoperoxide sesquiterpene, 10,12‑peroxycalamenene,
exhibiting the strongest effect at ECso 2.33 × 106 M.[19]

Antispasmodic activity

An aqueous extract of rhizomes of C. rotundus (ACR)
was tested for its anti‑diarrheal and anti‑spasmodic
activity. Anti‑diarrheal effect of ACR was evaluated in
castor oil induced diarrhea in mice and antispasmodic
effect was evaluated by charcoal meal test in mice
at a dose of 125, 250, 500 mg/kg. The % inhibition
of diarrhea was 30.36%, 37.90%, 45.45% and 92.45%
for ACR 125, 250, 500 mg/kg (po) and loperamide
2 mg/kg dose (po) respectively. ACR 125, 250,
500 mg/kg (po) and atropine sulfate 2 mg/kg
dose (po) produced 24.35%, 31.48%, 36.75% and
55.94% inhibition of intestinal transit respectively.
These results were indicated that ACR produces its
anti‑diarrheal effect through decreasing intestinal
secretions and anti‑spasmodic effect by inhibiting the
intestinal motility.[20]

Anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity

Regarding high incidence of epilepsy in human society
and with respect to insufficient therapies, in the present
study, anticonvulsant effect of C. rotundus extract was
experimentally examined. A total of 60 male mice
were randomly selected and divided into 6 groups; (1)

control, (2) pentylentetrazole (PTZ)‑kindled
mice, (3) positive control group which received
valproate (100 mg/kg) as anticonvulsant drug
and (4‑6) which received C. rotundus rhizome extract at
three doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg; i.p). All groups
except for control group were kindled by 11 injections
of PTZ (35 mg/kg; i.p) with an interval of 48 h. In the
12th injection, all groups except for control group were
tested for PTZ challenge dose (75 mg/kg). The exhibited
phases of seizure (0‑6) were observed and noted for
30 min after PTZ injection. At last, all brains of mice
were removed and then malondialdehyde (MDA),
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO)
levels of brain tissues were determined. Data analysis
showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of C. rotundus
could reduce intensity and duration of seizure.
Furthermore, the extract could increase the level of
SOD and NO and decrease MDA level in mice brain. It
is concluded that C. rotundus rhzome extract, probably
through its antioxidant properties could have exerted
a potent antiepileptic effect.[21]

Antibacterial activity

The Antibacterial activity of Cyperus oil was studied
for various microorganisms (S. aureus, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus pyogenes,
E. coli and P. aeruginosa) using inhibition zone
method (Aromatogram). The MIC and MBC for each
microbe were estimated. The oil of C. rotundus was
shown a remarkable activity against Gram‑positive
bacteria, less antibacterial activity was found against
Gram‑negative bacteria and no activity were observed
with the oil against P. aeruginosa and P. vulgaris.[10]

Antiplatelet activity

C. rotundus, a well‑known oriental traditional medicine,
has been reported to exhibit wide spectrum activity in
biological systems including the circulatory system,
however, little information is available on its antiplatelet
activity. This study was undertaken to investigate the
antiplatelet effects of C. rotundus EtOH extract (CRE) and
its constituent compounds. Materials and methods: The
antiplatelet activities of CRE and its eight constituent
compounds were evaluated by examining their effects
on rat platelet aggregations in vitro and ex vivo and on
mice tail bleeding times. Results: During the in vitro
platelet aggregation study, CRE showed significant and
concentration dependent inhibitory effects on collagen,
thrombin and/or induced platelet aggregation. Of
its eight components, (+)‑nootkatone was found to
have the most potent inhibitory effect on collagen,
thrombin and AA‑induced platelet aggregation.
In addition, CRE‑and (+)‑nootkatone‑treated mice


25

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exhibited significantly prolonged bleeding times.
Furthermore, (+)‑nootkatone had a significant
inhibitory effect on rat platelet aggregation ex vivo.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the antiplatelet
effects of CRE and its active component (+)‑nootkatone
and suggests that these agents might be of therapeutic
benefit for the prevention of platelet‑associated
cardiovascular diseases.[22]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Lipid lowering activity

REFERENCES

In the present study, hyperlipidaemia was induced by
high fat diet as it is always useful for the assessment of
agents that interfere with the absorption, degradation
and excretion of cholesterol. Feeding with high fat diet
caused significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum total
cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density
lipoprotein (LDL) levels with respect to the baseline
value. Though on high fat diet feeding an increase in
high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were seen but
they were not found to be statistically significant.
In present study, treatment with the standards
and different doses of extract exerted statistically
significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum TC, LDL, TG,
HDL levels at the end of 15 days of intervention.[23]

Wound healing activity

The present study was aimed to evaluate the wound
healing activity of extract of tuber parts of C. rotundus.
An alcoholic extract of tuber parts of C. rotundus was
examined for wound healing activity in the form of
ointment in three types of wound models on rats:
The excision, the incision and dead space wound
model. The extract ointments showed considerable
difference in response in all the above said wound
models when comparable to those of a standard drug
nitrofurazone ointment (0.2% w/w NFZ) in terms of
wound contracting ability, wound closure time and
tensile strength.[24]

CONCLUSION
Nagarmotha (C. rotundus) is a perennial plant and
is one of the most invasive weeds known, having
spread out to a world‑wide distribution in tropical
and temperate regions. The plant is mentioned in
the ancient ayurvedic medicine Charaka Samhita.
Ayurvedic physicians uses the plant, known as musta
or musta moola churna, for treating fevers, digestive
system disorders, dysmenorrhea and other maladies.
Modern alternative medicine recommends using the
plant to treat nausea, fever and inflammation; for
pain reduction; for muscle relaxation and many other
disorders.
26

The authors are gratefully acknowledged the immense
help received from the scholars whose articles are cited
and included in references of this manuscript. The authors
are also grateful to authors/editors/publishers of all those
articles, journals and books from where the literature for
this article has been reviewed and discussed.

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larvae (Plutella xylostella L.), detoxification mechanisms and toxicity
to non target species. Kasetsart J Nat Sci 2001;35:284‑92.
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14. Anonymous. Medicinal Plants of Folklores of Northern India. 1st ed..
New Delhi: CCRUM Press; 2001. p. 150‑533.
15. Kempraj V, Bhat SK. Ovicidal and larvicidal activities of Cyperus
giganteus Vahl and Cyperus rotundus Linn. essential oils against Aedes
albopictus (Skuse). Nat Prod Radiance 2008;7:416‑9.
16. Singh SP, Raghavendra K, Dash AP. Evaluation of hexane extract of
tuber of root of Cyperus rotundus Linn (Cyperaceae) for repellency
against mosquito vectors. J Parasitol Res 2009;1:1‑5.
17. Solita ES, Castor L. Phytochemical and pesticidal properties of
barsanga (Cyperus rotundus Linn.). JPAIR Multidiscip J 2011;6:197‑214.
18. Kilani S, Ben Ammar R, Bouhlel I, Abdelwahed A, Hayder N,
Mahmoud A, et al. Investigation of extracts from (Tunisian) Cyperus
rotundus as antimutagens and radical scavengers. Environ Toxicol
Pharmacol 2005;20:478‑84.
19. Thebtaranonth C, Thebtaranonth Y, Wanauppathamkul S,
Yuthavong Y. Antimalarial sesquiterpenes from tubers of Cyperus
rotundus: Structure of 10,12‑peroxycalamenene, a sesquiterpene
endoperoxide. Phytochemistry 1995;40:125‑8.
20. Shamkuwar PB, Hoshamani AH, Indrajeet D. Antispasmodic effect
of Cyperus rotundus L.(Cyperaceae) in diarrhoea. Der Pharm Lettre
2012;4:522‑4.
21. Mohsen K, Zahra K, Mehrdad R, Azizi Y. Anticonvulsant and
1.



antioxidant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus rotundus
rhizome on pentylentetrazoleinduced kindling model in male mice.
Med Plants Res 2011;5:1140‑6.
22. Seo EJ, Lee DU, Kwak JH, Lee SM, Kim YS, Jung YS. Antiplatelet
effects of Cyperus rotundus and its component (+)‑nootkatone.
J Ethnopharmacol 2011;135:48‑54.
23. Chandratre RS, Chandarana S, Mengi SA. Lipid lowering activity
of alcoholic extract of Cyperus rotundus. Int J Res Pharm Chem
2011;1:1042‑5.

24. Puratchikody A, Devi CN, Nagalakshmi G. Wound healing activity
of Cyperus rotundus linn. Indian J Pharm Sci 2006;68:97‑101.
How to cite this article: Imam H, Z, Sofi G, Seikh A, Lone A. The
incredible benefits of Nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus). Int J Nutr
Pharmacol Neurol Dis 2014;4:23-7.
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared.
Received: 18-10-2013, Accepted: 18-11-2013

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