Leaves.
Musk plant is employed for treating infections related to the chest and cough. The leaves as well as the tender stems of this species are generally used in traditional herbal medicine in all places where this plant grows naturally. Herbal practitioners value this herb for its antiseptic properties. It is often used for treating respiratory problems, coughs, diarrhea, stomach ache, fever, angina pectoris, dengue and malarial fevers, toothache, headache and yaws. An infusion prepared from the leaves and roots of musk plant is employed in the form of an emetic. Apparently, inhaling the aroma of the crushed leaves of this plant helps to alleviate headaches. It has been found that the essential oil extracted from the leaves of musk plant possesses mild anti-malarial activity against two different strains of Plasmodium falciparum. A diterpene present in musk plant has anti-spasmodic activity similar to that of papaverine. An extract from musk plant leaf contains 80% ethanol and findings of several studies have shown that it possesses anti-viral and anti-microbial activities. This extract is effective in slowing down the growth of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Microsporum canis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
More often than not, the musk plant has a preference for a sun-lit position. However, when this plant is grown in extremely hot regions, it grows better when positioned in partial shade. This herb flourishes when grown in light well composted soil with adequate drainage. Musk plant grows somewhat rapidly and can grow to a height of 80 cm just in one year. Musk plant also starts flowering in a year from the day of sowing its seed. The plant is not loathed to trimming and it is best to prune the hard parts once the flowering season is over. This will help the plant to remain tidy as well as floriferous. This species is dioecious in nature. In other words, the plants are either male or female plants, and it is essential to grow both forms in close vicinity if one desires to procure its seeds. Musk plant grows rather rapidly and fills up the empty spaces very fast. This plant has a preference for regular watering during the summer months, but hardly requires any watering in winter. This species can be easily propagated from its cuttings. Since musk plant is a rapidly growing shrub, it needs to be trimmed after every flowering season. You can grow this species in a pot or in the form of an ornamental plant in your garden.
Several therapeutically active compounds found in the musk plant include diterpenes, an essential oil (1.9%) - the main constituents of which are ?-terpineol (22.6%), ?-caryophyllene (7.9%), fenchone (13.6%), phytosterols and perillyl alcohol (6.0%).