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www.aamj.in 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. 345 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 346 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. 16 347 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 .22 348 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. REFERENCES 1. Pandey GS, Bhavaprakasha Nighantuof Bhavamisra, Guducchadi varga sloka 44-45. 349 Anitha & Paramkussh: A Critical Review on Gokshura – An Ayurveda Diuretic Drug G.S. 7th ed. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Bharati Academy; 1984. Pg 292. 2. Sasthry JLN, Dravyagunavijnan, vol II, chaukhambha orientalia, Varanasi, page98 3. Theodore Cooke CE, The flora of the presidency of Bombay. Vol I, 2nd Ed. Bombay: Botanical survey of India; 1999. Pg 170. 4. Vaidya Vishnu Mahadeva Gogte, Ayurvedic Pharmacology and Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants (Dravyaguna Vijnyan). 1st English ed. Mumbai: Bharatiya vidyaBhavana; 2000. Pg 361-62. 5. 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Jha V, modern scientific interpretations of ethnobotanics references in beliefs, custom and philosophical thoughts in Mithila (North Bihar), India, Ethno botany: 11(1-2), 138-144 30. Mali RG, Hundiwale JC, Gavit RS Patil DA andPatil KS, Herbal abortfacients used in North Maharashtra, Nat Prod rad: 5(4), 315318, (2006). 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