Description
Botanical Description
- Growth Habit: Gokhru is a low-growing, prostrate plant with spreading stems that can extend up to 2 meters.
- Leaves: The leaves are pinnately compound, green, and opposite, with small leaflets.
- Flowers: The plant produces small, yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom individually in the leaf axils.
- Fruits: The fruit is spiny and globular, breaking into nutlets with sharp spines. This spiny nature is why it is sometimes called “puncture vine.”
- Seeds: The seeds are small and brown.
Chemical Constituents
Gokhru contains a variety of bioactive compounds, such as:
- Saponins (including protodioscin)
- Alkaloids
- Flavonoids
- Glycosides
- Tannins
Cautions and Side Effects
- Gokhru is generally safe when taken in recommended doses, but excessive consumption may lead to side effects like stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with pre-existing medical conditions, should consult a healthcare provider before use.
