Indian Journal of Traditional KnowledgeVol. 4(2), April 2005, pp. 132-138

A life saving medicine made by a vanishing species

K N Sahoo, G K Datta, S K Pandit, T K Biswas and P K Debnath*J B Roy State Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital Kolkata 700 004, West Bengal

E-mail: pk_debnath@rediffmail.com

Received 2 July 2003; revised 23 June 2004

Kasturi (musk) obtained from Kasturi mriga (musk deer), was chiefly used as a Rasayaua (irnmunornodulator) as well asv ajikarana (aphrodisiac) by the ancient physicians of Ayurveda. It was once considered as a last resort of emergencymedicine. Some experimental studies on its stimulant and antisnake venom properties are reported to be promising. Detaileddiscussion on kasturi has been made in the review.

Keywords: Musk, Sex stimulant, Antisnake venom, Aphrodisiac Activity, Immunomodulator, Ayurveda, Kasturi, RasayanaDrug, Anti venom activity.

IPC Int. C1.7: A6IK35178; A6lP15/08; A61P151l0; A61P37/02; A61K39102; A61K39106

About five thousands years ago, a symposium onhealth care system was organized by some Indianholy scholars (Rishis), near the base of Himalayasunder the chairmanship of Rishi Bharadwaj. Severalancient Indian holy scholars attended the meeting forconsensus regarding the problem on health caredelivery system I. Herbs, minerals, animal and marineproducts were introduced as medicines for theprevention and remedy of diseases. Kasturi, an animalproduct, was also considered as one of the life savingmedicines. It is usually obtained from a gracefulanimal, the kasturi mriga (musk deer; Moschuschrysogaster Hodgson, Phylum: Chordata, Class:Mammalia, Order: Ungulate, Family: Cervidae).

On discovery of hundreds of synthetic medicine,random killing of musk deer for collection of musk,loss of ancient belief of therapeutics, explosion ofglobal population, there is gradual decline of flora andfauna, leading to gradual disappearance of themedicine, musk and its source, musk- deer.

In recent past, some scientists obtaining somepromising results performed few experimentalstudies.

Kasturi (musk) and Kasturi Mriga (musk deer)The musk deer, a solitary terrestrial animal and an

endangered species is about 80-100 ern in height(Fig. 1). The food consists of grass, lichens, leaves

*Corresponding author

and flowers. On the nape of the neck, there are severalhorizontal blotches of yellowish hairs. The bodyslopes forward, as the hind legs are almost one thirdlonger than the forelegs. The general colour of thecoat composed of brittle hairs, is a slightly grizzledsandy brown. As the name suggests, on the chest is awide vertical whitish-yellow stripe, which extends upthe throat to the chin. The ears are tipped with yellowor orange hairs. The ears are large and rounded,generally lined with whitish fur. Both sexes havewell-developed upper canines, and in males thesegrow 7-10 ern long and protrude from the mouth in afang-like manner. The canines are constantlygrowing, but, due to their mobility and fragility, theyare easily broken. They do not have any antlers. Thetail is completely buried in the long hairs of the analregion. The males have a musk gland situated beneaththe skin of the abdomen. The breeding season isbelieved to be January and the young are born in June.The female usually gives birth to one young, theirgestation period is about 150-180 days.Kasturi is a dark resinous secretion moist or semi

liquid in nature, present with ammonia like odour,collected in a small sac (pod) covered with hair(Fig. 2), which is made by an infolding of skinsituated a short distance behind the navel and in frontof preputial orifice of the deer (Fig. 3). It is secretedfrom the preputial follicles in the sac of the adult malemusk deer during their breeding season only as anatural measure to attract the female deer with its

SAHOO et at: LIFE SAVING MEDICINE FROM VANISHING SPECIES 133

Fig. 1. The musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster)

Fig. 2. The intact sac containing Kasturi of Moschus chrysogaster

Fig. 3. The pod of Kasturi (Mriganabhi) excised from Moschus chrysogaster

CH3ICH-CH2

/' "-(CH2)10 C=O" /CH2-CH2

MusconeFig. 4. Chemical Structures

134 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, NO.2, APRIL 2005

characteristic aroma. The ejection of the secretionfrom the sac takes place through a small canal whichis situated on the outer surface of the pod and opensnear the preputial orifice".

When Kasturi is free from moisture and ammonia,it yields a charming aroma. After being dried, itbecomes granular which is soluble in water (50-75%)and alcohol (10-12%). Quality musk is dark purplishin colour and has a bitter aromatic taste and odour':".The chemical constituents of musk are ammonia,olein, cholesterin, fat, wax, gelatinous matter,albuminous substances, inorganic salts of sodium,potassium, calcium; and an aromatic volatile oil,muscone".

The smell of musk is identical with that of syntheticcyclopentadecanone and its methyl derivatives.Muscone, a constituent of Kasturi is a methylderivative of the fifteen cyclic ketone (Fig. 4).

Hunters used to collect the whole area around thenavel (Navi) of the deer including the tumour likeswelling (the musk pod) by killing it. Hence, it iscalled Mriganavi Kasturi in India. The deer-is a smallgraceful and timid animal weighing about 17 kg. Itwas once well distributed along the Himalayan regionat the altitudes of 2700-4200 meters high snow-linerunning through northern Pakistan, Afghanistan,North-western and northern India, Sikkim, Bhutan,Nepal, Myanmar, parts of Tibet and South-westernChina. Now it is restricted to some isolated pockets inthe region" (Fig. 5).

Mode of use of KasturiTherapeutically in indigenous systems of medicine,

it is used orally and topically. For the purpose ofanimal experimentation, it is used parenterally, orallyand intraperitonealy in intact animals. It is also usedin aqueous bath on isolated animal tissue". However,in the western system of medicine, its therapeutic useis not mentioned.

In certain Indian literature like Ritu Samhita, PujaBhaskar, etc., Kasturi is described to be used as acharming substance and cosmetics". Kasturi is a greatdiscovery of ancient Indian physicians, who used it indiversified ailments. Its use in ancient period was sogreat that it was once considered as the last resort ofemergency medicine". Vivid description about itsquality, types, uses, etc. is mentioned in Ayurvedaand Unani literature. Bhava Mishra, an ancient writeron Ayurvedic pharmacopoea mentioned three types ofKasturi e.g. Kainrupiya, Naipali and Kaslullirl'.

Cyclopentadecanone

/;,

:,\;-.:'

Fig. 5 - Map showing Distribution of Musk Deer

The Kauirupiya Kasturi obtained from musk deerin Assam (Kainrupj was blackish in colour and wasconsidered as the best quality. The Naipali Kasturiobtained from Nepal was bluish in colour andmedium in quality. The Kasluniri Kasturi obtainedfrom Kashmir valley was brownish grey (kapil) incolour and considered as the lowest quality of musk.The Kasturi obtained from Tibet was the bestaccording to Unani System of Medicine.'. In RajNighantu, five types of Kasturi, ·according to itsappearance have been mentioned:

1. Kharika2. Tilaka

It is of dust form.Its size is like Til seed iSesanuanindicum Linn.).Its size is like Kulattlia seed(Dolichos biflorus Linn.).Its size is slightly greater than theseed of Kulattha.Its size is slightly greater than thatof Pindika.

3. Kulattlia -

4. Pindika

5. Nayika

Musk is characterisedpharmacodynamics as Laghu

by Ayurvedic(light), Tikshna

SAHOO et al.: LIFE SA VING MEDICINE FROM VANISHING SPECIES

(pungent) and Rukshna (rough). Its taste is Tikta(bitter) and Katu (irritant). The taste of musk ischanged into Katu (pungent) after Vipaka (aftereffect). Its Virya (potency) is Ushna (hot)", Kasturican change the imbalanced Kapha and Vata, (twobasic humours of Ayurveda) to normal. It preventsfoul odour emitting from the individuals. One can feelwarm in winter after intake of medicine preparedfrom musk (Shit nashak). It can increase the volumeand tension of weak pulse (Nadi balya) and improvesthe function of brain (Mashtishka balya). It canimprove appetite (Kshudha bardhak) and function ofheart (Hridya). It is used in breathlessness (Swashara)especially in bronchial asthma (Tamak swas). Itcauses sexual stimulation in both sexes as well asincreases the quality of spermatozoa in male andquality of ovum in female (Vajikarak). It is used infever (Jsaraghna) and in poisoning (Vishaghna). It isused in hemiplegia (Pakshaghat), cholera (Bisuchika),general debility (Daurbalya), tuberculosis(Rajayakshma), epilepsy (Apasmara) and in obesity(Sthulya)5.

It is mentioned in Unani medicine that Kasturicauses headache (Shirashul) when it is taken insummer season or in hot climatic area. RegularKasturi consumption decreases intelligence':

Artificial KasturiAroma of Kasturi is now industrially produced by a

group of chemicals like trinitrometatertiary butyltoluene and the corresponding compounds. Trinitrobutyl toluol (C6HN03CHCH4) is considered to be thebest substitute of aroma of natural Kasturi discoveredby Baure (1888). These substitutes have been widelyused in perfumery industry". Seeds and seed oil ofLatakasturi (Hibiscus abelmoschus Linn.) have musklike quality and odour'. These are used as thesubstitute of Kasturi for medicinal purpose inindigenous medicine. Kankol (Piper cubeba Linn.)and Jatipushpa (Jasminum officinale Linn.) can beused as the substitute of Kasturz7.

Once Kasturi had a high demand, mainly for thedrug preparations in traditional medicine. Thepoachers cut the skin of hunting musk deer and madeartificial pod and filled it with blood, liver, barleygrains, etc.; and placed a very small amount of puremusk at the mouth of artificial pod and tied the mouthof the pod. These false musk pods were supplied withoriginal musk pods".

135

Characteristics of pure KasturiSwddetikta pinjaraketakinam,Gandham dhate liighabam tolkena,Yiipsunyastanaiba baibarnyakiyat,Kasturi ya rajyabhogya prashasta.

(Raj NighantL/)Ya gandhain ketakinam harati parimallairbarnata

pijjarabha,Swade tikta katurbalaghu ratitulita mardita

chikkanasyat,Dhaham ya naiti bahanau chimi chimi kurute

charmagandhahutashe,Sa Kasturi prashasta bara mrigatanuja rajate raj

bhogya.(Raj Nighantu')

Pure Kasturi is bitter in taste, yellowish in colour,yielding aroma like Ketaki (Pandanus odoratissimusLinn. f.) flower. When added to water, its colour doesnot change. If placed on fire, it emits a peculiar soundand burning skin odour'.

Some of the several methods adopted by theancient physicians to detect pure Kasturi are asfollows:

1. Some water is placed on hand (Karatal) and avery small amount of Kasturi is added to water. Ifthe water immediately changes into red or yellowcolour, then it is believed that the must is impure,if not, then it is pure. But this test is not alwaysdependable. When the blood of musk deer ismixed with pure musk, this test will be positive.

2. The experienced people who know the taste ofpure Kasturi, can easily detect the musk, and canalso detect the quality, impurity, etc.

3. If in a room, pure Kasturi is placed, the room willbe filled with a charming aroma but the falsemusk will yield an unpleasant strong odour.

4. When pure Kasturi is rubbed by hands, thespecial aroma on the hands will persist for 2 to 4hrs. If pure musk is added to any material, thematerial yields the _ same odour for a longerperiod.

5. Pure Kasturi cannot be burnt out by the fire, butyields a smell of burning skin (Yatha dahamm yanaiti bhasmam rajbhogya).

6. An interesting popular test for pure Kasturi hasbeen reported by some workers". A cotton threadis passed through Hingu (Asafoetida) or throughRasuna (garlic) and again passed through the

136 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, NO.2, APRIL 2005

musk pod. After this, if the smell of HinguiFerula assafoetida Linn.) or garlic (Aliumsativum Linn.) remains in the thread, the Kasturiis not considered to be genuine.

7. Few grains of Kasturi are placed on a live pieceof charcoal. Pure musk melts and bubbles. If not,it at once becomes hardened and cinder and isconsidered to be adulterated.

8. Few grains of Kasturi are placed in water, if itremains granular, the musk is genuine and if thesemelt, the musk is considered to be adulterated.

9. Kasturi is put inside the soil. If the odour does notchange, it is considered to be pure musk.

10. Pure Kasturi is soft, while impure one is hard.11. Kasturi when placed on a paper, leaves yellowish

spot (Pita dag), and is considered to be pure.

Biological activitiesThe biological actions of musk are due to the

combined actions of the constituents", Many clinicaltrials are mentioned in Indigenous Systems ofMedicine using musk as a whole. In recent past, someinvestigations on musk have been made with thewhole substances, rather than with any of its activeprinciples. Muscone, an essential oil isolated frommusk is said to be devoid of any pharmacologicalactivity except stimulation of olfactory nerve cells dueto its specific characteristic odour". Earlier Kasturiwas widely used as an aphrodisiac agent as well asRasayana (immunomodulator) medicine. Someimportant properties observed in some experimentalstudies are described here.

Aphrodisiac activityA very small dosage of Kasturi taken orally can

stimulate the sexual urge both physically and mentallyin both the sexes". It prevents the quick discharge ofsemen and also increases the coital time. According toUnani medicine when placed in vagina or rubbed onmale genitalia, it can initiate the sexual urge leading•to act of sex without the feeling of exhaustion. Manysex stimulant preparations (Vajikarak medicines)mentioned in Ayurveda have musk as main ingredientnamely Kamagni sandipanrasa, Rativallav modak,Kanchanabhra rasa, etc. 10.

Cardiac stimulant activityKasturi is used as a cardiac stimulant in Indian

Systems of Medicine. It has been reported to stimulatethe amplitude of contraction of isolated rabbit heart

but heart rate and coronary flow are unaffected II. Itincreases the amplitude of contraction of isolated frogheart by SO% without a significant change in heartrate in hypodynamic heart induced by low calciumfluid (Straub's technique).

Respiratory stimulant activityKasturi is said to be a respiratory stimulant

medicine although no authentic report has beenobtained so far. Indian physicians used it inrespiratory failure in ancient days. It is probable that ithas a gross stimulatory effect on brain, respiratory andvasomotor centres in medulla and spinal cord". Butdetailed investigation of the respiratory stimulantaction has not been done so far.

Antisnake venom activityIn an experiment, the protective action of Kasturi in

male albino rats was determined against LD5= andLD95 of saw scaled viper (Echis carinatus) venom':'.All the rats were protected effectively by 10 mg/kgbody wt dose of musk administered throughintraperitonial route. After envenomation it wasobserved that there was a significant reduction ofhaematuria, local necrosis, bleeding from nose andmouth etc. No mortality was observed in all musktreated rats. The result therefore, proves theeffectiveness of musk against a snake venom and ifoffers a great promise in the field of snakepoisoning':',

Antihistaminic activityIn some experiments on healthy mice, presence of

naturally occurring antihistamine like substances inmusk was observed. It also exhibited a wide range ofactivity preventing in vitro effects of histamine,S-hydroxytryptamine, bradykinin, prostaglandin andacety Icholine 14.

Russell's viper venom (Schultz-Dale) reaction wascompletely inhibited by the musk. Such contractionswere caused by the liberation of histamine and othersubstances due the antigen antibody reaction. Muskprevented the capillary damage induced by the snakevenom. So, it is possible that musk inhibits someactivities of local substances secreted under differentconditions of inflammation. Inhibition ofprostaglandin E by musk on guinea pig ileum opensthe vista to study the action of musk in thisdirection 14.

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SAHOO et al.: LIFE SAVING MEDICINE FROM VANISHING SPECIES 137

~ adrenoreceptor stimulant activityKasturi possesses ~-adrenoreceptor stimulating

activity and potentiation of isoprenaline, adrenalineand noradrenaline on papillary muscles of cats 15. Itresembles the antihistaminic activity of human tissueextracts which explains that the antihistaminic activityof musk has a stronger command over its ~-adreno-receptor stimulating property".

Antispasmodic activityKasturi is used as an antispasmodic medicine in

Indigenous Systems of Medicine in India. Fewexperiments were performed on isolated frog skeletalmuscles, isolated guinea pig ileum and trachealsmooth muscles 11.15.17. It was observed that musk hasa potent Spasmolytic property. Antispasmodic actionof musk is selective to different tissues. Theimpairment of contraction of smooth muscles inducedby different agonists in presence of musk might bedue to membrane stabilization 17.

Central Nervous System stimulant activityKasturi reduces the sleeping time induced by

hexobarbitone. The activity is not related to the dosesadministered". Analgesic activity in rats was alsofound to be dose dependent, maximum (60%) activitywas observed after administration of musk 100 mg/kgbody weight. In mice, musk reduced the mortality ratedue to amphetamine at the dose of 25 mg/kg, while inother doses (50 and 100 mg/kg), mortality rateincreased 19.20.

Antiinflammatory activityKasturi possesses Antiinflammatory property

similar to hydrocortisone acetate on male albinorats". Musk was found to be about two times morepotent than phenyl butazone and was almostequipotent to hydrocortisonef ..

Diuretic activityOn conscious adult albino rats it was observed that

musk can produce significant increase in both volumeand sodium excretion in urine23

. The colour of urineturns to deep brownish after treatment with musk.

Blood pressure modulating activityIn an experiment, Kasturi (musk) produced

irreversible hypotension in cats causing death 11. Itproduced rise of blood pressure in albino rats, whichwas probably due to peripheral vasoconstrictiorr". In

dogs, musk did not bring any change in bloodpressure", So far no clear explanation regarding theeffect of musk in blood pressure of mammals hasbeen offered.

General stimulant activityIt is interesting to note that the Kasturi was widely

used as a general stimulant medicine since timeimmemorial.'. But no experimental report has beenobtained so far.

Method of collection of Kasturi from Kasturi mrigaPoachers kill the Kasturi mriga (Musk deer) and

cut down the whole area around the navel where muskpod is situated. Then Kasturi is collected from themusk pod. The scientists in Indian Systems ofMedicine (Ayurveda and Siddha) collect Kasturi frommusk deer in musk deerfarms without killing them bythe following methods:

1) The deer is kept firmly in lying down position.2) Then Kasturi is collected from the musk-pod

by screwing.

There is no ill effect on the health of the deerobserved by this method of extraction of musk. Bythis method of collection, only 10 to 11 gm of Kasturiis obtained from an adult musk deer in farm. Secondtime extraction would have to be done after 3 or 4years. At the age of 2 years, musk deer in farmssecrete Kasturi.

There are few musk deer farms in India forconservation of musk deer. All the farms are locatedin high altitudes in cold remote areas in an attempt toreplicate the musk deer habitat and have similar plantresources that are their preferred diet. Some of themare:

1. Kufri Musk Deer Farm (near Shimla): It is run bythe Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. It is notonly a musk deer farm but also a natural park.

2. Musk Deer Research Centre (in Almora district):It is run by the Central Council for Research inAyurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), Department ofAYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,Government of India.

3. Kanchula Khark Musk Deer Farm in Chamolidistrict (near Kedarnath): It is run by the ForestDepartment in Uttaranchal.

7 Narahari, Kasturia in: Raja-Nighantu, Tripathi, I, VersesNos. 47-57, (Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, 1" ed.), 1982.

8 Encyclopaedia Britanica, Volume 16, (EncyclopaediaBritanica Ltd., London), 1960.

9 Chopra R N, Chopra I C, Handa K L & Kapur L D,Indigenous Drugs of India, 2nd ed. (U N Dhar and SonsPublication; Calcutta), 1958.

10 Das G, Bhaisajya Ratnabali, (Chowkhambha Sanskrit,Sansthan, Varanasi), 1983.

11 Burn J H, Practical Pharmacology, (Black Well ScientificPublication, Oxford), 1952.

12 Macht D I & Ting G C, Sedative properties of some aromaticdrugs and fumes, J Pharmacology, 18 (1921) 361.

13 Arora RB, Seth SDS & Somani P, Effectiveness of musk(Kasturi), an indigenous drug against Echis carinatus (Thesaw scaled viper) envenomation, Life Sci, 9 (1962) 453.

14 Arora R B, Seth S D S & Sunderasan P, Effectiveness ofsome Indigenous drugs against Echis arinatus and Naja najasnake venoms, J Res lnd Med,S (1971) 231.

15 Kimura M & Waki I, Potentiation of f)-adrenergic receptor tomusk, Japan J Pharmacal, 16 (1966) 129.

16 Kovacs B A, Goodfriend L & Rose B, Naturally occurringantihistaminics with a steroid like structure, Proc Second IntCong on Hormonal Steroids, Milan, Italy, (1966) 1021.

17 Seth S D S, Mukhopadhyay A, Bagchi N, Prabhakar M C &Arora R B, Antihistaminic and spasmolytic effects of musk,Japan J Pharmacol, 23 (1973) 670.

18 Kuhn W L & van Maanen E F, Central nervous systemeffects of thalidomide, J Pharmacol Exp Therap ; 134 (1961)60.

19 Burn J H & Hobbs R, A test for tranquillizing drugs, Arch IntPharmacodyn, 113 (1950) 290.

20 Mukhopadhyay A, Seth S D S & Bagchi N, Cardiac andCNS actions of musk (Kasturi), lnd J Phann, 35 (1973) 169.

21 Mishra R K, A,rora R B & Seth S D S, Antiinflammatoryactivity of musk, Japan J Pharmacol, 14 (1962) 830.

22 Taneja V (nee Kapoor), Thesis All India Institute of MedicalSciences, New Delhi, 1971.

23 Kagawa C M & Kalm M J, Diuretic properties ofstereospecific 3-imido methyl oxazolidines in laboratoryanimals, Arch Int Pharmacodyn, 137 (1962) 241.

24 Crawford, T B B & Outschoorn A S, The quantitativeseparation of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline in biologicalfluids and tissue extracts, Brit J Pharmacol, 6 (1951) 8.

138 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 4, NO.2, APRIL 2005

ConclusionNewly developed artificial sex stimulant drugs like

Sildenafil citrate are very harmful while Kasturi(musk) offers a natural healthy sexual urge withoutany deleterious effects. Sometimes there were someunfortunate deaths due to the adverse reaction ofantisnake venom drug. But some experimental studiesproved the effectiveness of Kasturi against snakevenom and if offers a great promise in the field ofsnake poisoning. Some studies present a newerapplication of musk in the conditions of allergicdisorders, inflammation etc. Once Indian physiciansalso used it as a general stimulant as well asemergency medicine. There is need to establish thescientific basis of the ancient belief of therapeutics ofmusk. Urgent attention to these farms as well as theHimalayan field is needed to save the vanishingspecies.

AcknowledgementAuthors are thankful to the Director, Central

Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha NewDelhi, for providing photographic documents.

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2 Seth S D, Mukhopadhyay A, Raghunathan K, & Arora R B,Pharmacodynamics of musk, (Central Council for Researchin Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, New Delhi), 1975.

3' Nadkarni A K, Indian Materia Medica, Vol. II, 3rd ed.(Popular Book Depot, Bombay), 1954.

4 Wallis T E, Text Book of Pharmacognosy, 5th ed. (J & AChurchill Ltd., London), 1967.

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