See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/266875125

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF 'SALEP'

Article · January 2009

CITATIONS READS
8 392

3 authors, including:

Devangi Chachad
Jai Hind College
10 PUBLICATIONS   11 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

PhD Work View project

A natural antioxidant alternative from Ficus sp for synthetic dyes View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Devangi Chachad on 04 September 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology 3 (1) 153-156 (2009)
ISSN : 0973-4643 Short Article

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF ‘SALEP’

S.P. Jagdale, S. Shimpi, D. Chachad

Research Lab. Dept of Botany K.V. Pendharkar College, Dombivli. Dist. Thane. (MS) INDIA
Received - 12 May, 2008, Revised- 18 June, 2008, Accepted - 27 June, 2008
Abstract : According to the folklore ‘Salep’ is used as an aphrodisiac drug. Botanically
‘Salep’ is the underground part of Orchis latifolia Linn. and Eulophia nuda Lindl.
Both the plants belong to the same family Orchidaceae. of the two, Orchis latifolia
Linn. is a high altitude terrestrial orchid while Eulophia nuda Lindl is comparatively
widely distributed all over the Western Ghats. O. latifolia has palmated tuberous roots
and E. nuda has a chain of tubers underground. The aphrodisiac claims of these
orchids were not verified. Present study involves the standard methods and models to
confirm the said activity. Experiments were carried out on Swiss albino mice. The
observations were statistically analyzed to confirm the aphrodisiac potential of the
drug.
Key words: Salep, Orchis, Eulophia,and Aphrodisiac

INTRODUCTION
Plants animals and minerals are used in medicines by
man since prehistoric time. Plants provide a variety
of potent drugs, to prevent and cure diseases where
the synthetic drugs fail[1]. India has great variety of
herbal wealth due to its ecological and climatic
diversity.
Members of family Orchidaceae are also having
valuable medicinal properties. “Salep” includes species
of Eulophia and Orchis. Orchis latifolia Linn is a
terrestrial orchid recorded from temperate high
altitude regions and Eulophia nuda Lindl has wide
distribution in tropical as well as temperate climate.
In Maharashtra it is found in Ambaghat,
Chhotanagpur, Konkan, Kolhapur and Satara District.
Both the drugs are mentioned as Salep or Salam misri.
The roots of Orchis latifolia and tubers of Eulophia
nuda are mentioned as aphrodisiac in addition to the
other medicinal uses of them. Present study is carried
to find out the aphrodisiac potential of salep[2-6].
Increase in sexual behavior is androgen dependent.
The principal hormone for increase in the sex urge is
hormone testosterone. It enhances mounting
tendency, increases weight of the reproductive and
accessory reproductive organs. It promotes the
spermatogenesis. Aphrodisiac nature of a drug can
be studied by observing mounting behavior, organ
studies, sperm count and assaying certain biochemicals
like protein, cholesterol, haemoglobin and hormone[7-
9].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Roots of Orchis latifolia Linn. were procured from
RRL Jammu and also were collected from Valley of
Flowers, Garhwal Himalaya. The tubers of Eulophia
nuda Lindl were collected from Bhimashankar,
Koyna dam catchments from Maharashtra and
Andaman Islands. The fresh underground parts were
cleaned. The epidermis of Eulophia nuda Lindl.
tubers was peeled. Both the drugs were grounded
into powder. The drug used for the experiment was
prepared with 1 % gum Acacia in water. Both the
crude drugs were tested for its toxicity on mice by
using standard methodology.
Animals: Adult Swiss male mice (25 – 35 gms) were
used. They were fed with standard rodent pellet diet

153
Journal of Herbal Medicine & Toxicology

and water ad libitum and were maintained under RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
standard laboratory condition. Animals were divided
Both the crude drugs i.e. Eulophia nuda Lindl. &
in 3 groups of 6 animals in each. The group-1 was
Orchis latifolia Linn. are found non-toxic up to 2gms/
given 1% gum Acacia (10 ml/kg) and served as
kg of body weight. Both the experimental groups (
control. Group- 2 fed with Eulophia powder and
Drug treated ) showed significant increase in
group- 3 was given powder of Orchis latifolia Linn.
mounting behavior as compared to control group.
The selection of doses for the administration is done
Numbers of mounts recorded were more in Orchis
on the basis of toxicity study. For behavioral study
fed group than the Eulophia fed ones. There was
control group was given 1% gum Acacia (10 ml/kg).
remarkable increase in the organ weights as well as
while both the experimental groups were given drugs
sperm counts in both experimental groups than the
the (500mg/kg) separately. Then mounting behavior
control group. There was also significant increase in
was studied[8]. For the study of organ weights and
the protein, haemoglobin and testosterone content,
biochemical assays, experimental groups were given
whereas there was significant decrease in total
powder drugs (2 gm/kg) prepared in 1% gum Acacia
cholesterol content in the experimental groups that of
separately for 21 days[10]. The epididymal sperm
the control group. These data proves the aphrodisiac
count was taken by method[11]. The standard methods
potential of the Eulophia nuda & Orchis latifoli.
were used for biochemical assays. For protein
Lowry’s method[12]; cholesterol by Wybenga and
Pilleggi [13]; Haemoglobin – Sahlis method and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
hormone testosterone assay was carried out by Radio
Immune Assay[14]. Testosterone & haemoglobin We are thankful to Principal Kulkarni V.N. of K.V.
assays were carried out in blood where as protein Pendharkar College and Principal Mrs. Shetty Rajani
and cholesterol estimations were performed in testis for providing us the animal house facility of Saraswati
homogenate. pharmacy College Dombivli.

154
 Jagdale S. P. et al.

Table No.2 Organ weights in control group

Testes E.D. V.D. SV +CG V.P Sperm No.

Mean 376.69 146.62 42.59 460.72 10.07 8.36
S.E. 6.22 4.22 0.47 5.65 0.96 0.07

Table No.3 Organ weights in experimental groups

Eulophia nuda
Sperm No.
Testes E.D. V.D. SV +CG V.P
x 106
Mean 481.11 171.23 57.83 504.76 16.5 8.61
S.E. 9.76 8.8 3.16 11.33 1.4 0.08
t value 10.69 2.79 4.81 3.88 4.56 2.89
Orchis latifolia
Sperm No.
Testes E.D. V.D. SV +CG V.P
x 106
Table 1 Mounting behavior in control and experimental groups
Mean 611.51 223.38 80.74 549.72 21.9 8.86
S.E. Control
13.941 4.63 Eulophia nuda
2.02 7.65 Orchis latifolia
1.41 0.09
t value A 16.84 B 16.55 A 18.8 B 11.6 A 8.38 B 3.96
P < 0.05 1 Hr 3Hr 1 Hr 3 Hr 1 Hr 3 Hr
Mean 2.6 1.8 4 3 7.6 4.6
S.E.
Table.4. Protein
0.21
and cholesterol
0.3
in0.42
control and0.44 experimental groups.
0.36 0.62
t test Control 3.31 2.71
Eulophia nuda13.69 4.46 Orchis latifolia
P< 0.05 Protein Cholesterol Protein Cholesterol Protein Cholesterol
mg/gm mg/gm mg/gm mg/gm mg/gm mg/gm
Mean 154.01 14.9 181.33 9.7467 211.85 8.87
S.E. 7.94 0.8 9.13 0.923 11.95 1.1
t value 2.98 5.57 4.83 5.43

P < 0.05
Table.5. Haemoglobin and testosterone in control and experimental groups.

Control Eulophia nuda Orchis latifolia

Hb. Testosterone Hb. Testosterone Hb. Testosterone
gm % ng/ml gm % ng/ml gm % ng/ml
Mean 14.38 1.26 14.5 1.42 14.9 1.52
S.E. 0.05 0.01 0.07 0.02 0.07 0.02
t value *1.67 6.2 7.22 8.74

* P < 0.10; P < 0.05

155
 Journal of Herbal Medicine & Toxicology
REFERENCES
[1]. Trease, G.E. and Evans, W.C.: Pharmacognosy.
Harcourt brace & Asia Pvt., W.C., Saunders Co. (15th
edi) ( 2002).
[2]. Desai. W.G. :Aushadhi Sangrah Rajesh Publication,
Pune. 2: 218:243 (1975).
[3]. Kirtikar, K. R., Basu, B. D.:1933. Indian Medicinal
Plants, Lalit Mohan Basu, Allahabad, Ed. II., Vol. IV,
2403:2415.
[4]. Nadkarni, A. K., Nadkarni , K. M. :Materia Medica,
Popular Book depot, Bombay, Ed. III, Vol. I (1989).
[5]. Wealth of India raw materials, Publication and
information Directorate, New Delhi,Vol.VII, 104.( 1966)
[6]. Wealth of India raw materials, Publication and
information Directorate, New Delhi, 1966, Vol.III, 221
– 222 (1966).
[7]. Ratnasooriya, W. D., Dharmasiri, M. G: Asi. J. of
And China 2:213-219 ( 2002).
[8]. Sureshkumar, P.K., Subramaniam, A, Pushpangadan,
P.: Ind J Pharmacol..32:300-304 (2000).
[9]. Yadav S.R., Sardesai M.M: The flora of Kolhapur ,
Shivaji university Kolhapur Pub. , pp463-467 ( 2002).
[10]. Vogel, G. H., Vogel, W. H.Drug discovery and
evaluation – Pharmaclogical Assays, Springer –
Verlag – Berlin, NewYork2002.
[11]. Taylor, G.T., Weiss, J. Frechmann, T., Heller. J.:
J.Reprod. Fert.73:323-327 (1985).
[12]. Plummer, D. T.:An introduction to practical
biochemistry. Tata Mc- Graw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd.
Delhi. 159:160. (2004)
[13]. Zlatkis, Zak and Boyle, 1953, Practical clinical
biochemistry IV Ed. IV, 315 ( 1953) .
[14]. Ranade, V.G., Joshi, P.N., Pradhan, S: A textbook of
practical physiology, Pune Vidhyarthi Grih Prakashan:
296-298 (1992).

156

View publication stats