Chlorophytum orchidastrum Lindl. belongs to family Liliaceae and is being used in the indigenous systems of medicine as a galactogogue and aphrodisiac. It is being sold in the market under the common name “safed musali”. The drug part is usually used as the white tuberous roots of this plant. The tuberous roots of other species of Chlorophytum, Asparagus, Bombax and Orchids are also known as safed musali. Because of its controversial name safed musali, there is a lot of scope for adulteration in the bazar drugs. Therefore to remove the controversy and for correct botanical standardization, the detailed pharmacognostic study on the tuberous roots of Chlorophytum orchidastrum has been carried out. It includes macroscopic, microscopic characters, histochemistry and phytochemistry. The Phytochemical and histochemical test includes starch, protein, saponins, sugar, tannins, glycosides and alkaloids. Percentage extractives, ash and acid insoluble ash and fluorescence analysis and HPTLC.
