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ANVESHANA
AYURVEDA MEDICAL JOURNAL
Review Article
ISSN: 2395-4159
A CRITICAL REVIEW ON GOKSHURA – AN AYURVEDA DIURETIC DRUG
Anitha Baby M.1, M. Paramkussh Rau2
1PG
Scholar of Dravyaguna, 2Professor and HOD of Dravyaguna,
S. V. Ayurveda College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Corresponding Author: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
In his long struggle to achieve mastery over powerful forces of nature, man has always
turned to plants for help, during normal life and especially when he was struck with physical
and mental ailments. In both ancient and recent cultures, plants have been used as sources of
medicines. The use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization. The knowledge about
medicinal plants in the early age was documented systematically and organized scientifically in
Ayurvedic Samhitas, Nighantus and other texts. In which we can get many references of medicinal
plants. According to Ayurvedic system of medicine, Gokshura is found to be highly beneficial in
renal calculi, difficulty in micturition, chronic cystitis and other genito-urinary problems.The
present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its
Pharamacognosy, Phytochemistry, traditional and pharmacological uses.
Key words: Gokshura, diuretic activity
INTRODUCTION
In Vedic period, drugs were
worshiped like God. The Vedas glorify
Dravya by giving it the status of Lord
Brahma. Ayurvedic treatises have given
importance to Dravya as a part of Ayurvedic
Trisutra (Hetu, Linga, and Oushadh) and
Chikitsa Chatushpad (Bhishak, Dravya,
Paricharak, and Rogi). Hence, the Oushadh
which is panchabhoutika alike its recipient, is
the second most important factor for the
restoration of doshik equilibrium of sareera.
Ayurveda literature describes lot of
drugs and the action of which has been
explained on the basis of the theory of Rasa,
Guna, Virya, Vipaka, and Prabhava. Acharya
Charaka has elaborated first four chapters of
Sutrasthana as ‘Bheshaja chatushka’, which
shows the importance of Bheshaja. He has
described 50 Mahakashayas which contain at
least 500 drugs. The present review is about
the drug Gokshura which is found to be highly
beneficial in renal calculi, difficulty in
micturition, chronic cystitis and other genitourinary problems1. There is no convincing
reference of the drug Gokshura in Vedic
period.2 Information of this plant is available
from the period of Samhita. Various
therapeutic uses of this drug are seen in many
classics. Gokshura has mentioned in various
Nighantus like Bhavaprakasa, Dhanvanthari
Nighantu etc.
Botanical Name
: Tribulus terrestris,
Linn
Taxonomical Classification of Gokshura3
⇒ Kingdom – Plantae
⇒ Division – Spermatophyta
Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
⇒ Class – Dicotyledonae
⇒ Sub class – Polypetala
⇒ Series – Disciflorae
⇒ Order – Geraniales
⇒ Family – Zygophyllaceae
⇒ Genus – Tribulus
⇒ Species – terrestris
Meaning of Tribulus terrestris4
Tribulus = having three sides,
Terrestris = of the ground.
Ayurvedic Pharmacology
Gokshura is one among Dashamoola
described in classics5. In Brihatraayi and
Laghutraayi; we found several reference of
Dashamoola as a single and also with
ingredient of other formulation. Gokshura is
explained detail in Bhavaprakasa Nighantu
with synonyms, properties, medicinal uses.
Properties Described in Ayurvedic Texts:
As per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of
India, Gokshura has sweet (Madhura) taste
(Rasa); is cold in potency (Veerya); gives
sweet (Madhura) effect after metabolism
(Vipaka); and possesses properties (Guna)
like heaviness (Guru), unctousness (Snigdha),
with these properties, it eliminates the Vata.
It is an appetizer, strength provider, diuretic
and aprodisiac.6
Medicinal Uses:
In Ayurveda, fruit of Gokshura is used
internally to treat calculus, diabetic mellitus,
dysuria,
bronchial
asthma,
cough,
haemorrhoids,
rheumatic
arthritis,
abdominal pain, arthralgia and heart
ailments. Whole plant of Gokshura is good
aphrodisiac and rejuvenative also.
Ayurvedic formulations
There are at least 70 herbal and
herbomineral
formulations
used
in
Ayurvedic medicine, which contain Gokshura
as their vital ingredient. The concise list of
commonly used formulations and their
indications is given in Table 1.
Table 1: Common Ayurvedic Formulations of Gokshura with their Indications
Sl.No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
YOGAS
Brahma Rasayana
Chyavanaprasha
Brmhani gutika
Vrshya payasa yoga
Apatyakara ghrta
Amruthadya taila
Swadamshtra taila
Swadamshtradi ghrta
Gokshuradi yoga
Pashanabhedadi churna
Shatavaryadi kwatha
Dashamooladya ghrta
Agastya hareetaki
Amrutaprasham ghrta
Swadamshtradi ghrta
Nagabala ghrta
Agastya Rasayana
Vasishta rasayana
Kantakari ghrta
Dasamooladi kwatha
Gokshuradi churna
Bharngi guda
Kantakari ghrta
Bhrngarajadya ghrta
Chavanaprasham
Amruthadi churna
Alambushadya churna
Yogaraja guggulu
Swadamshtra ghrta
Haritakyadi kwatha
Trikantakadi kwata
Trikantakadi ghrta
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
INDICATION
Vrshya,rasayana
Rasayana,kasa,swasa
Vrshya,Brmhana
Vrshya,Brmhana
Vrshya,rasayana
Vatavyadhi
Sarva vatajanya roga
Ashmari
Ashamari
Ashmaribhedana & pathana
Pittaja mutrakrchra
Agnideepana, pachana, vataghna
Sarva kasa,swasa,kshaya
Krsha kshata,vrshya
Kasa,sosha,mutrakrchra
Vrshya,rasayana
Kshaya,kasa,prameha
Kshaya,kasa,prameha
Kasa,swasa,hikka
Parswa soola,sirasoola
Vrushya
Swasa,kasa
Swarabheda, sarva kasa
Swarabheda,kasa
Kasa,swasa,kshataksheena
Amavata
Amavata, sandhi shotha
Amavata, urusthambha
Hrdroga,soola,Mutrakruchra
Daha,Mutrakrchra
Ashmari,mutrakruchra
Mutrakruchra, Ashmari
REFERENCES
Cha.chi.1/41-57
Cha.chi.1/62-74
Cha.chi.2/24-32
Cha.chi 2/12-14
Cha.chi2/28-29
Cha.chi28/158-163
Cha.chi.28/146-147
Cha.chi 26/74
Cha.chi 26/62
Cha.chi 26/60-61
Cha.chi 26/50
Cha.chi 15/82
Cha.chi 18/58-62
A.Hr.chi 3/94-101
A.Hr.chi3/120-105
A.Hr.chi3/120-125
A.Hr.chi3/127-132
A.Hr.chi3/133-142
A.Hr.chi3/56-57
C.D 10/10
C.D 67/9
C.D12/25-30
C.D13/12
C.D13/14
C.D 10/47-54
C.D 25/14
C.D 25/19-22
C.D25/25-30
C.D31/27-30
C.D 32/7
C.D 32/22
C.D32/28
344
Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
Sukumarakumarakam ghrta
Varunadi kwatha
Sunthyadi kwatha
Pashanabhedadya ghrta
Nagaradi kashaya
Swadamshtradi kashaya
Swadamshtradi panaka
Trikantakabeeja churna
Sathavaryadi churna
Kamadeva ghrta
Loha rasayana
Gokshuradi kwatha
Gokshuradi guggulu
Kamadeva ghrta
Dasamoolarishta
Dasamooladi kwatha
Amruthadya churna
Alambushadi churna
Gokshuradi gutika
Gokshuradyavaleha
Trnapanchamooladya ghrta
Mutrakrchra, katisoola,yonisoola
Mutrakruchra, Ashmari
Ashmari
Vatajanya Ashmari
Ashmari
Ashmari
Ashmari
Ashmari
Vrshya, rasayana
Pandu,vrshya
Pandu,vrshya
Mutrakrchra,ushnavata
Mutrakrchra,prameha
Raktapitta,mutrakrchra
Grahani,swasa,kasa,aruchi
Jwara
Amavata
Amavata,vatarakta
Prameha,shotha
Mutradaha, malabandha
Ashmari
Part Used and Dosage
In almost all Nighantus fruit, root and
whole plant are advised to use in
formulations. Gokshura can be used in the
form of Swarasa, Kwatha, phanta or Churna
internally. The general dosage according to
Vanoushadhi Nidarshika,
• Phala Churna – 3 to 6 g or 3 to 6 Masha
• Kwatha
- 5 to 10 tola
According to Nigantu Adarsh,
• Phala Churna – ¼ - ½ tola
• Moola
¼ tola
Bheda (Varieties)
1. Laghu or Kshudra Gokshura (Tribulus
terrestris)
2. Brihat Gokshura (Pedalium murex)
Charaka and Susrutha have not
mentioned about the varieties. Only the
terms like Gokshura, Swadmstrra, and
Trikantaka has been mentioned. Brihat
Gokshura is found in Raja Nighantu. Raja
Nighantu mentioned about Kshudra Gokshura
and Brahat Gokshura. And lastly he claims
even both Gokshura are endowed with same
properties.
3. Gaja gokshura (Martynia annua, Linn.)
Telugu name is enuku palleru. It is
mentioned in Vasthuguna Deepika of
E.Venkataswamy7
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
C.D 32/30
C.D34/1
C.D34/5-7
C.D34/8-10
C.D34/28
C.D34/30
C.D34/31
C.D34/34
Sha.S.M.Kha6/155156
Sha.S.M.Kha9/28-34
Sha.SM.Kh12/274288
Sha.S.M.Kha2/107
Sha.S.M.Kha7/84-87
Sha.S.M.Kha9/27-37
Sha.S.M.Kha10/79-84
B.N 1/413
B.N 26/62
B.N 26/63-65
B.N 39/82-87
B.N38/105-107
B.N37/55-57
Morphology of Gokshura8
An annual or perennial procumbent
10-60 cm height, hirsute or silky hairy herb
with spreading branches. Stems and branches
pilose. Young parts silky villous. Leaves
paripinnate, opposite, one of each pair.
Usually smaller than the other. Stipules
lanceolate, hairy. Leaflets 5-8 pairs, sub equal,
Oblong to linear-oblong,
6-12 mm long,
oblong mucronate, sericeo villous with
appressed hairs beneath and more or less
above. Petioles very short, pilose. Flowers
axiliary or leaf opposed, solitary, pale yellow
to yellow. Pedicels 1.2-2 cm long slender,
hairy. Sepals 6 mm long, lanceolate, acute,
and hairy. Petals 1 cm long, oblong, obovate,
claw short, hairy. Ovary sessile. Style short,
stout. Stigmatic lobes longer than the
diameter of the style. Fruit pedicellate,
globose, consisting of (usually) 5 hairy
glabrous, often wedge shaped woody cocci
each with 2 pairs of sharp spines, stiff too, one
pair longer than the other. Seed several in
each coccus with transverse partition
between them. Roots slender, Cylindrical,
somewhat fibrous, 10-15cm long, light brown
and faintly aromatic.
Ecology and Distribution9
This trailing plant is common in
sandy soil throughout India and Ceylon.
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Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
Plentiful in the united provinces.
It is
common weed of the pasture lands, road
sides, and other waste lands, chiefly growing
in hot, dry and sandy regions throughout
India and up to 3000 m in Kashmir. It is found
throughout India up to an altitude of 5400m.
It is widely distributed over fields, grounds,
warmer regions of the world and growing
widely with aroma of sugar cane. Found in
tropical regions in India, Konkan, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Deccan, Peninsula, Bengal,
Bihar, Madras and very common in upper
Gangetic plains, Ceylon.
Substitutes and Adulterants
Pedalium
murex
belonging
to
Pedaliaceae family is also known as Brihat
gokshura is available in the market as
substitute of Tribulus terrestris. But the two
plants can easily be distinguished from each
other. T.terrestris is commonly known as
laghugokshura, while P.murex is known as
Brihatgokshura. In some region Gokshura has
been botanically substituted or adulterated
with ‘Tribulus alatus’, ‘Acanthospermum
hispidium’ .Some people also substitute
‘Martynia annua’ for Gokshura since it looks
similar to Gokshura. Morphologically both
types of Gokshura now considered are entirely
different. Only one thing common in them is,
both have prickles (thorns) present on their
fruit.
Pharmacognostical Features of Tribulus
Terrestris10
 Whole plant
Macroscopic - a small, prostrate, hirsute or
silky hairy herb with spreading branches.
Opposite leaves abruptly pinnate and
stipulate. Solitary flowers often axillary or
leaf opposed and yellow in colour.Globose
fruits with seeds in its cocci.
Powder Microscopy of Whole Plant11 –
revealed the presence of starch with
unicellular trichomes, Prismatic and rosette
crystals, Fragments of stomata, Spiral
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
vessels, pitted vessels with group of fibres,
Epidermal cells in surface view, Sclereids
 Fruit
Macroscopic - Fruit is globose 0.5 inch in
diameter and 1/3 inch in thickness. Fruit
consists of five densely hairy woody oftenmuricate cocci. Each coccus bears two large
sharp, pointed rigid spines directed towards
the apex and two smaller. Shorter spines
directed downwards. Tips of spines almost
meet in pairs together forming pentagonal
frame work around the fruit. Outer surface of
the schizocarp is rough. Odour is faintly
aromatic and taste slightly acrid Colour is
yellowish brown. Seeds several in each coccus
with transverse partition between them.
Microscopic - The transverse section of the
fruit exhibits five coccii, which are free in the
upper part but united below. In the transverse
section five pairs of large spines are seen
distinctly. Microscopically the pericarp is
differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and
endocarp. Outer surface of the epicarp is
covered by non-glandular trichomes. In
coccii epicarp consists of one layer of
epidermis
with
unicellular
lignified
trichomes. Mesocarp is parenchymatous and
contains vascular bundles. Rosette crystals of
calcium oxalate are in abundance in
mesocarp. The parenchymatous mesocarp is
6-10 layered thick, cells containing calcium
oxalate crystals. Endocarp is lignified and
contains five seeds one in each coccus The
endocarp is 3-4 layered, composed of
sclerenchymatous cells containing prismatic
crystals of calcium oxalate. Vessels have
simple pits and some show helical
thickenings. Fibres are lignified, linear, along
with tapering ends.
 Root
Macroscopic- Root occurs in pieces, 7-18 cm
long and 0.3 -0.7 cm in diameter, cylindrical,
fibrous, frequently branched, bearing a
number of small rootlets, tough, woody,
yellow to light brown in colour, surface rough
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Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
due to presence of small nodules; fracture
fibrous; odour aromatic; taste sweetish and
astringent.
Microscopic- shows 4-5 layers cortex,
diarchal stele, and cork cambium in the
epicycle, presence of fibres in the phelloderm,
phloem and xylem, absence of stone cells,
narrow medullary rays and prismatic rosette
crystals of calcium oxalate. Transverse
section of primary root shows a layer of
epidermis followed by 4-5 layers of thin
walled parenchymatous cortex. Endodermis
is distinct; pericycle enclosing diarchal stele.
Part
Root
In mature root, cork is 4-6 layered, cork
cambium single layered followed by 6-14
layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells
with varying number of fibres distributed
throughout. Secondary phloem is divided
into two zones, outer characterised by the
presence of numerous phloem fibres with a
few sieve tubes, slightly collapsed, while the
inner zone is parenchymatous, devoid of
fibres. Phloem rays are distinct; a few cells
get converted into fibres in outer region.
Cambium is 3-5 layered.
Table 2: Microscopic Characters of Different Parts of Gokshura12
Microscopic Characters
Cork, cortex, pericyclic fibres, prismatic and calcium oxalate crystals,
mucilage cells, endodermis with xylem
Fruit
Epidermis with coccus, glandular trichomes, epicarp, mesocarp, stone cells with mucilage
Stem
Multicellular trichomes ,epidermis, palisade ,pericyclic fibres, vascular bundle with large pith
Leaf
Upper epidermis with multicellular glandular trichomes, palisade, chlorophyll,
lower epidermis single layered with multicellular trichome.
The pharmacognostical evaluation
comprises of detailed macroscopy, powdered
microscopy,
fluorescence
analysis,
quantitative microscopy and physical
constants such as ash and extractive values.
On treating root powder of Tribulus
terrestris with IN NaOH in water, powder
fluoresced bluish green.
Physical analysis of Fruit of Gokshura13
Foreign matter is not more than 1
percentage. Total ash not more than 15
percentage. Acid-insoluble ash not more than
2 percentage. Alcohol soluble extractive not
less than 6 percentage. Water-soluble
extractive not less than 10 percentage
Physical analysis of Root of Gokshura14
Foreign matter is not more than 2
percentage. Total ash not more than 13
percentage. Acid-insoluble ash not more than
3 percentage. Alcohol soluble extractive not
less than 4 percentages. Water-soluble
extractive not less than 10 percentage.
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
Phytochemistry of Tribulus terrestris, Linn
(TT)15
The preliminary phytochemical study
of TT revealed the presence of saponins,
flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, and tannins
Fruits of the Tribulus plant (Tribulus terrestris
fruit) contain:
 Furostanol based steroidal saponins such
as terrestroside A,B as well as terrestrinin B,
terrestroneoside A, and chloromaloside and
glycosides of these molecules including
tribufuroside
 Spirostane based steroidal saponin
 Tribulusamides A-D
 Terrestramide
 Pregnane glycosides
 Bhutani et al. Isolated kaempferol,
kaempferol-3-glucoside,
kaempferol-3rutinoside, and tribuloside [kaempferol-3-βd-(6″-p-coumaroyl) glucoside] from leaves as
well as fruits and identified them by
spectroscopic analysis. 16
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Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
 Raja and Venkataraman identified
flavonoids from the petroleum ether and
chloroform extracts of fresh fruits of TT
from India using ethyl acetate: benzene (1:9)
solvent system. 17
 Tian Shung et al. Isolated and
characterized three new compounds,
terrestribisamide, 25R-spirost-4-en-3, 12dione, and tribulusterine, together with 10
known compounds, N-p-coumaroyltyramine,
terrestriamide, hecogenin, aurantiamide
acetate, xanthosine, fatty acid ester, ferulic
acid, vanillin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and βsitosterol, from the dried fruits of TT. 18
 The alkaloids present are harmane and
norharmane. The β-carboline alkaloid,
tribulusterine, is present in minor quantities
in fruits.19
The main components of the Tribulus
terrestris Root extract include:
 Protodioscin commonly seen as the main
bioactive and can comprise up to 45% of the
Tribulus terrestris dry extract (exluding
macronutrient and water weight)
 Pseudoprotodioscin
 Dioscin and Diosgenin (0.031% in roots
(wet weight); 0.065% in stem; 0.16% in aerial
parts, and 0.095% overall)
 Tribulosin
(tigogenin
3-O-β-dxylopyranosyl(1–2)-{β-d-xylopyranosyl (1–3)}-βd-glucopyranosyl(1–4)-{a-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1–
2)}-β-d-galactopyranoside), a spiral vagina
steroid
 Hecogenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 →
4)-β-d-galactopyranoside
 Gitogenin
type
saponins
called
Protodibestin and tribestin
 Sulphated spirostanol and furostanol
saponins (Bulgarian only)and general
spirstanol and furostanol saponins
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015

di-p-coumaroylquinic acid and 4,5-di-p-ciscoumaroylquinic acid
 A 60kDa antilithiatic protein
 Vitamin C at 909mg/100g (0.9%)
Aerial Parts contain
 Yang et al. optimized the extraction
condition using orthogonal experiment.20
 Matin Yekta et al. isolated three flavonoid
glycosides, viz. Quercetin 3- O-glycoside,
quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol 3O-glycoside from the aerial parts of T.
Terrestris L.
Whole Plant contain
 Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
analysis of methanolic extract of the whole
plant of TT revealed the presence of αAmyrin as the major constituent
 seven minor constituents, which are
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol,
nhexadecadienoic acid, hexadecadienoic acid
ethyl ester, phytol, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid,
9,12,15-octadecatrienoic
acid,
and
1,2benzenedicarboxylic acid disoctyl ester.
 Sterols such as β-sitosterols and
stigmasterols were also found to be present.21
Leaf contain
 Kaempferol,
kaempferol-3-glucoside,
kaempferol-3-rutinoside, and tribuloside
[kaempferol-3-β-d-(6″-p-coumaroyl)
glucoside] from leaves as well as fruits and
identified them by spectroscopic analysis.
 Louveaux et al. Detected 18 flavonoids
(caffeoyl derivatives, quercetin glycosides,
including rutin and kaempferol glycosides)
using
highperformance
liquid
chromatography (HPLC) in four Tribulus
species leaf .22
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Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug
Part
Whole
Plant
Leaf
Flower
Fruit
Root
Seed
Table 3: Chemical Constituents Present In Different Parts of Gokshura23
Chemical Constituents
Astragalin, chlorogenin, cistocardin, cracillin, D-pinitol Harman, polysaccharide H, ruscogenin,
saponoside –C, 5-hydroxysulphonyloxy jasmonic acid, hecogenin 3-O-beta -Dglucopyranasyl
Ascorbic acid, ASH, Calcium, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, Iron, oxalates, Phosphorus, Pottassium, protein, tribuloside.
Beta-sitosterol , campestrol , gitogenin ,kaempferol , kaempferol-3-beta-D-(6P-coumaroyl)-glucoside ,
kaempferol-3-rutinoside , neogitogenin , quercetin , stigmasterol
Aspartic acid, fat, glutamic acid, linoieic acid, neohecogenin-3-O-beta –D-glucopyranoside, oleic acid,
palmitic acid, stearic acid
duacosterol, deoxydiosgenin, diosgenin, diosgin, hecogenin, protodioscin, rutin, terrestrosides, tribulosin
fat, harmine, protein
Research Works on Diuretic Activity of
Tribulus terrestris, Linn (TT)
The diuretic properties of TT are due
to large quantities of nitrates and essential oil
present in its fruits and seeds. The diuretic
activity can also be attributed to the presence
of potassium salts in high concentration.Ali
et al. tested the aqueous extract of TT
prepared from its fruit and leaves in rat
diuretic model and strips of isolated Guinea
pig ileum were used for the contractility test.
The aqueous extract of TT, in oral dose of 5
g/kg, elicited a positive diuresis, which was
slightly more than that of furosemide.
Sodium and chloride concentrations in the
urine were increased. The increased tonicity
of the smooth muscles, which was produced
by TT extract, together with its diuretic
activity helped in the propulsion of stones
along the urinary tract.24
Saurabh et al. evaluated the different
extracts of TT fruits, viz. aqueous,
methanolic, Kwatha-high strength, Kwathalow strength, and Ghana powder, for diuretic
activity in rats.25
Kwatha-high strength showed diuretic effect
comparable to that of the reference standard
frusemide and also exhibited additional
advantage of potassium-sparing effect.
Antiurolithic activity (Litholytic action): An
ethanolic extract of TT fruits was tested in
urolithiasis induced by glass bead
implantation in albino rats by Anand et al. 26
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
CONCLUSION
There are 400 different tribal and
other ethnic groups in India which constitute
about 7.5% of India’s population. Tribal, rural
and primitive societies have discovered
solution for treatment of disease to almost all
their needs and their problems from the
natural resources around them27. Hence in
recent years, ethno medicinal studies received
much attention as this brings to light the
numerous little known and unknown
medicinal virtues especially of plant origin
which needs evaluation on modern scientific
lines such as phytochemical analysis,
pharmacological screening and clinical trial2830. Gokshura is an important medicinal plant,
which is safely & effectively used to treat
various disorders in Ayurvedic system of
Medicine since centuries. Few toxicity
studies done in rodents have confirmed the
safety of both crude powder and extract of
Tribulus terrestris. Gokshura plant possesses
various pharmacological activities as
discussed in present paper. However, it is
imperative that more clinical and
pharmacological studies should be conducted
to investigate the unexploited potential of
this plant.
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How to cite this article: Anitha &Paramkussh. A Critical Review
on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug. AAMJ 2015; 1: 343-51
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared
Fig.1: Gokshura whole Plant
AAMJ / Vol. 1 / Issue 5 / Sep – Oct 2015
Fig.2: Gokshura Fruit
Fig.3: Gokshura Root
351