Nagarmotha in Ayurveda: Properties & Everyday Use

What it is

Nagarmotha is the Ayurvedic name for Cyperus scariosus R.Br., a perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae (review). It is a different species from musta, the Ayurvedic name for the related Cyperus rotundus, though the two are close botanical relatives. The medicinal part is the rhizome (underground stem), which yields an aromatic essential oil. Phytochemical surveys of the rhizome list essential oils, sesquiterpenes (including cyperene), flavonoids, steroidal saponins, ketones, and polyphenolic compounds (review).

Classical properties

• Taste (rasa): bitter (Tikta), pungent (Katu)
• Qualities (guna): light (Laghu), dry (Ruksha)
• Potency (virya): warming (Ushna)
• After digestion (vipaka): pungent (Katu)
• Doshas: traditionally said to settle Kapha and Pitta; may increase Vata

Traditional use

Nagarmotha has an extensive ethnomedicinal record across Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani practice. Traditional texts describe the rhizome as a diaphoretic (promoting sweating) and a general tonic, with reported use in fever, spasms, and liver-related complaints (book chapter; review). Unani physicians know the same drug as Saad Kufi, recorded by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in his Kitab al-Adviya al-Qalbia as a cardiac remedy still in Unani use (ex-vivo cardiac study). These are traditional and historical claims, not clinical proof: the research record is examined separately below.

What research has looked at

Inflammation (laboratory studies)

In a laboratory study, a methanolic extract of C. scariosus rhizome showed antioxidant activity about half that of ascorbic acid at 50 µg/ml, and in a protein-denaturation test-tube assay it showed anti-inflammatory activity, with diclofenac sodium as the reference compound. GC-MS analysis followed by molecular-docking simulations identified several compounds predicted to interact with the human COX-2 enzyme (PMC study). These are in-vitro and computational findings: they point to anti-inflammatory chemistry, not a proven effect in people, and nagarmotha is not a treatment. Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor.

Liver protection (animal studies)

An animal study tested an aqueous-methanolic extract of C. scariosus against acetaminophen- and carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice and rats. Pretreatment cut mortality from a lethal acetaminophen dose from 100% to 30% and significantly lowered the toxin-elevated liver-enzyme markers (ALP, GOT, GPT) after both chemical insults (study abstract). This is animal evidence only; no human liver studies exist.

Blood pressure and heart function (animal and ex-vivo studies)

A 50% ethanolic extract of the root (Saad Kufi) significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in adrenaline-induced hypertensive rats (Nafees et al., 2020). Separately, the same type of extract increased heart rate, ventricular developed pressure, and cardiac work in isolated rat hearts studied ex vivo on a Langendorff apparatus (DOAJ-indexed study). Both findings are preclinical, with no human translation yet.

What the evidence does not support (yet)

No human clinical trials of nagarmotha, randomized or otherwise, were identified for any indication. The digestive, diaphoretic, and tonic uses remain traditional claims, and the anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, and cardiovascular signals come entirely from laboratory, animal, or ex-vivo work.

Safety notes

Dedicated human safety data for nagarmotha are lacking. In animal toxicity testing, a combination formulation containing C. scariosus showed no acute toxicity in mice at high single oral doses (PMC study): a limited animal finding, not human safety evidence. There are no data on use in pregnancy or breastfeeding and no systematic study of interactions with medications. Until human data exist, use should involve a qualified practitioner rather than self-direction.

FAQs

What is nagarmotha?

Nagarmotha is the Ayurvedic name for Cyperus scariosus R.Br., a sedge in the family Cyperaceae. The medicinal part is the aromatic rhizome, which is also distilled into cypriol essential oil used in perfumery (review).

Is nagarmotha the same as musta?

No. Nagarmotha (Cyperus scariosus) and musta (Cyperus rotundus) are different species in the same genus. They are close relatives and are sometimes confused, but the Ayurvedic drug names refer to distinct plants.

What is nagarmotha used for in Ayurveda?

Traditional texts record the rhizome as a diaphoretic and general tonic, with use in fever, spasms, and liver-related complaints; Unani medicine (as Saad Kufi) additionally records it as a cardiac remedy (book chapter; review). These are traditional uses, not clinically proven effects.

Does modern research support nagarmotha's uses?

Only at the preclinical level. Laboratory work suggests anti-inflammatory chemistry (COX-2 interaction), and animal studies report liver protection against chemical toxins and blood-pressure lowering (PMC study; study abstract). No human clinical trials were identified.

Is nagarmotha safe?

Human safety data are lacking. Animal testing of a formulation containing it showed no acute toxicity at high single doses, but that does not establish safety in people. There are no data for pregnancy, breastfeeding, or drug interactions: consult a qualified practitioner before use.

What is the recommended dose of nagarmotha?

Swastik does not suggest amounts. The right amount depends on the person, the preparation and the product, so check with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or your doctor before taking any herb.

Sources

• Zubair A et al. "Nagarmotha: A Useful Medicinal Plant and its Synergistic Ophthalmic Formulations" (Scopus-indexed review) — ouci.dntb.gov.ua
• "Multifaceted Pharmacological Properties: From Traditional Knowledge to Modern Medicine — Cyperus scariosus" (book chapter, IIP Series) — iipseries.org
• "Identification of human cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors from Cyperus scariosus (R.Br) rhizomes" (in-vitro and computational study) — PMC · PMC4248346
• "Studies on protective effect of Cyperus scariosus extract on acetaminophen and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity" (animal study abstract) — sciencedirect.com
• Nafees et al. "Evaluation of anti-hypertensive activity of ancient Unani cardiovascular drug Saad Kufi (Cyperus scariosus) in adrenaline-induced hypertensive rats" (2020) — researchgate.net
• "Study of Avicennan Unani drug Saad Kufi (Cyperus scariosus R.Br) for cardiac activity on isolated Langendorff rat heart" (ex-vivo study, DOAJ) — doaj.org
• "In-vivo effects of IVT-15 — A traditional knowledge-inspired formulation for the management of rheumatoid arthritis" (PMC, animal study incl. acute toxicity) — PMC · PMC12596969

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.