GOKSURA (Root)
Goksura consists of root of Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Fam. Zygophyllacease): an annual prostrate herb, rarely perennial common weed of the pasture lands, road sides and other waste land, chiefly growing in hot, dry and sandy regions throughout India and upto 3,000 m in Kashmir.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Goksuraka, Trikatna, Svadamstra, Traikantaka
Assamese : Gokshura, Gukhurkata
Bengali : Gokshura, Gokhri
English : Caltrops root
Gujrati : Be tha gokharu, Nana gokharu, Mithogokharu
Hindi : Gokhru
Kannada : Sannanaggilu, Neggilamullu, Neggilu
Kashmiri : Michirkand, Pakhda
Malayalam : Nerinjil
Marathi : Sarate, Gokharu
Oriya : Gukhura, Gokhyura
Punjabi : Bhakhra, Gokhru
Tamil : Nerinjil, Nerunjil
Telugu : Palleruveru
Urdu : Khar-e-Khasak Khurd
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Drug consists of root, 7-18 cm long and 0.3-0.7 cm in diameter, slender, cylindrical, fibrous, frequently branched bearing a number of small rootlets, tough, woody and yellow to light brown in colour, surface becomes rough due to presence of small nodules, fracture fibrous, odour aromatic, taste, sweetish and astringent.
b) Microscopic
Transverse section of primary roots show a layer of epidermis followed by 4-5 layers of thin-walled parenchymatous cortex, endodermis distinct, pericycle enclosing diarch stele, in mature root, cork 4-6 layered, cork cambium single layered followed by 6-14 layers of thin-walled parenchymatous cells with varying number of fibres, distributed throughout, some secondary cortex cells show secondary wall formation and reticulate thickening, fibres found in groups resembling those of phloem, secondary phloem divided into two zones, outer zone characterised by presence of numerous phloem fibres with a few sieve tubes slightly collapsed, inner zone frequently parenchymatous, devoid of fibres often showing sieve tubes and companion cells, phloem rays distinct, few cells get converted into fibres in outer region, cambium 3-5 layered, wood composed of vessels, tracheids , parenchyma and fibres and traversed by medullary rays, vessels scattered, arranged in singles or doubles towards inner side, in groups of three to four on outer side having bordered pits, tracheids long, narrow with simple pits, xylem parenchyma rectangular or slightly elongated with simple pits and reticulate thickening, xylem fibres few, trachieds elongated with simple pits, medullary rays heterogenous, 1-4 cells wide, starch grains and rosette crystals of calcium oxalate present in secondary cortex, phloem and medullary rays cells, few prismatic crystals also present in xylem ray cells.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 4 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 10 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
CONSTITUENTS – Alkaloids and saponins.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Guru, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Madhura
Karma : Mutrala, Vrsya, Vatanut, Brmhana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Sahacaradi Taila, Dasamula Kvatha Curna, Dasam ulakautraya Kvatha Curna, Dasam ulapancakoladi Kvatha Curna
THERAPEUTIC USES – Svasa, Hrdroga, Kasa, Vataroga, Sularoga, Mutrakrcchra, Asamari
DOSE – 20-30 g of the drug for decoction.
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