Gokhru : Chemical Constituents, Medicinal Uses and Synonyms

Gokhru Benefits and Chemical Constituents

Morphology and Distribution of Gokhru

Gokhru consists of the dried fully ripened fruits of the plant Tribulus terrestris, belonging to the family Zygophyllaceae. Gokhru is also known as Tribulus and Puncture Vine.

This Gokhru drug is is an annual or biennal plant and is widely distributed in the countries like India, Sri Lanka and West Tibet.

Flowering of the plant occurs during rainy seasons in the months of October and November.

The fruits are green or greyish in colour without any odour.

Chemical constituents of Gokhru:

The drug Gokhru contains traces of alkaloids, harmine and harman. The drug also contains other constituents like saponins that on hydrolysis yields steroidal sapogenins like diosgenin, gitogenin, chlorogenin and ruscogenin. These saponins are present in the parts of the plant like leaves and roots.

Leaves and fruits contains chemicals like flavonoids, kaemferol, tribuloside and its derivatives. The fruits contain fixed oil, resin, traces of essential oil and nitrates. The fatty oil possesses excellent drying properties.

Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits of Gokhru:

• Diuretic (fruits)
• Tonic (fruits)
• Used for treating calculous affections
• Useful for treatment of painful micturition (urination)
• Used in the treatment of gout
• Used as aphrodisiac
• It is a common ingredient of Ayurvedic preparations like Dashamoolarishta and Chyavanprash

Medicinal Uses of Bara gokhru: