Gokhru or Gokshura (“Tribulus terrestris”) is an annual flowering plant which is commonly used in the treatment of urinary tract disorders. They are popularly known as “small caltrop,” “Chota Gokhru,” “puncture vine,” goat head, devil’s thorn. In Ayurveda, it is popular by the name Gokshura. The Latin meaning of the word Tribulus is “three pointed caltrops” suggested for the three pronged fruit of Tribulus terrestris fruit with projecting spikes. It is found in various countries of subtropical part of world such as India, Pakistan, China, Africa, Australia, southern and Western Europe, North Africa. In India, it is mainly found in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, North-west states. It is a common weed plant with spines found in sandy soil, waste lands, road side, dry and grazing land. Useful part of the drug being its roots (Gokshura Moola) is a component of Dashmoola (group of ten medicinal plants principally comprising of roots as the useful part) which is used in the managment of various common diseases. There are two main varieties of Gokshura mainly – Brihat Gokshura (Pedalium murex Linn.) and Laghu Gokshura (Tribulus Terrestris Linn.) which are found abundant in India.
Chotta Gokhru (“Tribulus terrestris”) is famous for its diuretic, antiurolithic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, aphrodisiac, analgesic, anti-hypertensive, cardiotonic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antihelmintic, larvicidal, and anti-carcinogenic effects. Meanwhile Bruhat Gokhru (Pedalium murex Linn.) is used to treat diseases like common cold, cough and is used as an antiseptic. Further, it treat sexual and other reproductive disorders such as impotency, gonorrhoea, infertility, and premature ejaculation as it contains diosgenin and vanillin constituents which are responsible for the aphrodisiac property. Unani and Ayurvedic Medical system make use of this drug as a cooling agent which improves appetite, asthma, inflammation, piles, leprosy, heart diseases, cough, and vesicular calculi.
In Ayurveda, Gokshura is being used to decrease swelling or oedema, treat urinary disorders, maintain circulatory system & body fluid, increase the body weight, enhances the immunity, strength and stamina and also is good in respiratory disorders. In Unani medical system, powder form of Gokshura is used to treat female infertility, dysuria, and micturition problem. Also they were given to boost hormonal production. In the traditional Chinese medicine, fruit part of this drug has been used to treat sexual problems, eye problem, oedema, abdominal distension, and leucorrhoea. This plant is used for the treatment of diarrhoea, headache, dysentery, cough and common cold, stomach ache, intestinal infections by Vaidyas around Haridwar and Uttarakhand. Tribal people of Rajasthan and Saperas community utilize this drug to treat sexual problems and male infertility. In Rayalaseema, it is used for treating urinary calculi and renal problems.
Gokshura as a decoction is used for gargling to treat toothache, gums, and stomatitis. It is also used in the paste form to treat wound and skin inflammation when mixed with honey. It is effective against back pain and for treating gall bladder stone. The drug is also useful in hormonal balancing system and provides relief from premenstrual tension and menopause which results in optimum function. The roots of the plant are used to treat nocturnal emission and leucorrhoea. It is also used to calm down body temperature when taken in powder form with water. Root paste possesses aphrodisiac activity.
It is witnessed that Bruhat Gokshura & Laghu Gokshura display some common properties and beneficial in asthma, cardiac disorder, skin diseases, cough, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, and antifungal agent. Irrespective of above facts, Laghu Gokshura is mainly used to cure urinogenital disorders and kidney disorders such as renal and gall bladder stone while Bruhat Gokshura has aphrodisiac property and mainly used to cure sexual disorders such as infertility, impotence, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunctioning in both male and females.
