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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Pedalium murex, commonly known as Gokhru or Large Caltrops, is a medicinal shrub native to India, Mexico, and tropical Africa used traditionally for reproductive and urinary disorders [PMID:21967701, PMID:29864930].
Background
Pedalium murex (family: Pedaliaceae) is a fruit-bearing annual herb and shrub found in the Deccan region of Southern India and parts of Ceylon [PMID:21967701, PMID:29864930].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used to treat cough, cold, and as an antiseptic [PMID:21967701]. It is reported as a cure for reproductive disorders including male impotency, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea, and female leucorrhoea [PMID:21967701]. Other traditional applications include the management of urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal tract disorders [PMID:21967701], gastric ulcers, asthma, and heart problems [PMID:29864930].
Active compounds
Phytochemicals include diosgenin, vanillin, quercetin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, and amino acids such as glycine [PMID:21967701]. Other identified components include flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans [PMID:35015385], polyphenols [PMID:40287109], and pedalitin [PMID:32127759].
Mechanism of action
The herb exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, spermatogenesis-inducing, aphrodisiac, smooth muscle relaxing, and androgenic properties [PMID:31989693]. It has been shown to inhibit the UreC gene expression and urease production in Proteus mirabilis [PMID:32127759]. In silico analysis suggests potential anti-diabetic kidney disease (DKD) activity via the inhibition of TNF-α and NF-κB [PMID:42070473].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DMale Reproductive Dysfunction
Methanolic fruit fraction improved fertility (~70%), sperm motility, and sperm density, while restoring serum LH, FSH, and testosterone levels in rat models [PMID:30430603]. Ethanolic fruit extract reduced mount and intromission latency and increased serum testosterone in rats [PMID:22732724].
Evidence DUrolithiasis (Kidney Stones)
Ethyl acetate extract reduced struvite crystal growth and inhibited urease production [PMID:30671363, PMID:32127759]. Ethanolic fruit extract protected liver and renal tissues from damage in ethylene glycol-induced models [PMID:24078501, PMID:22557365].
Evidence DLead-Induced Testicular Toxicity
Aqueous extracts of leafy stem and fruit protected against lead-induced toxicity in Wistar rats [PMID:35015385].
Evidence DObesity
Mucilage from P. murex demonstrated anti-obesity properties in high-fat diet induced obese albino male rats [PMID:37902530].
Evidence DGastric Ulcers
Aqueous leaf extract showed antiulcer efficacy against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats [PMID:20566443].
Safety & adverse effects
An acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study in Wistar rats using aqueous extracts of leafy stem and fruit was conducted, though specific adverse outcomes were not detailed in the provided abstract [PMID:37520119].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with a focus on reproductive health, urolithiasis, and metabolic disorders; there are no human clinical trials provided in the abstracts.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 23569975 (2012) — Biological activities and medicinal properties of Gokhru (Pedalium murex L.). · Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2.PMID: 21967701 (2011) — Pedalium murex Linn.: an overview of its phytopharmacological aspects. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
3.PMID: 35015385 (2022) — Aqueous extract of Pedalium murex D. Royen ex L. leafy stem protects against lead induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
4.PMID: 37902530 (2024) — Diet-induced animal model anti-obesity, phytochemical profiling, and in silico analysis of culinary plant gokhru (Pedalium murex L.) mucilage. · Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Ethanolic fruit extract showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in rat paw oedema models [PMID:24146508].
Evidence DHyperglycemia
Leaf ethanol extract demonstrated potential for managing hyperglycemia in vitro and in vivo [PMID:40287109]. Seed oil also showed antidiabetic activity in mice [PMID:37599488].
(2020)
— Plants in the management of male infertility.
· Andrologia
6.PMID: 29864930 (2018) — Phytochemical and pharmacological status of indigenous medicinal plant Pedalium murex L.-A review. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
7.PMID: 32127759 (2020) — Effect of traditionally used herb Pedalium murex L. and its active compound pedalitin on urease expression - For the management of kidney stone. · Saudi journal of biological sciences
8.PMID: 24146508 (2013) — Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits. · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
9.PMID: 40287109 (2025) — Antihyperglycemic activity of polyphenolic metabolites and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from Pedalium murex: Characterization and application of antioxidant and uropathogenic antimicrobial activities. · Microbial pathogenesis
10.PMID: 30671363 (2019) — Evaluation of anti-urolithiatic potential of ethyl acetate extract of Pedalium murex L. on struvite crystal (kidney stone). · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
11.PMID: 24078501 (2013) — Anti-urolithiatic effect of ethanolic extract of Pedalium murex linn. fruits on ethylene glycol-induced renal calculi. · Urology journal
12.PMID: 37520119 (2023) — Acute and Repeated Dose 28-Day Oral Toxicity Study of the Aqueous Extracts from the Leafy Stem and Fruit of Pedalium murex D.Royen EX.L in Wistar Rats. · Journal of toxicology
13.PMID: 23569800 (2011) — Pedalium murex Linn (Pedaliaceae) fruits: a comparative antioxidant activity of its different fractions. · Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
14.PMID: 22661853 (2011) — Identification of fruits of Tribulus terrestris Linn. and Pedalium murex Linn.: A pharmacognostical approach. · Ayu
15.PMID: 30430603 (2019) — Modulatory effects of methanolic fruit fraction of Pedalium murex on sulphasalazine-induced male reproductive disruption. · Andrologia
16.PMID: 39917916 (2025) — Isolation, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Mucilage from Pedalium murex Linn. Leaves. · Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
17.PMID: 37599488 (2023) — EI-GC-MS analysis and antidiabetic activity of Pedalium murex seed oil. · Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
18.PMID: 28772238 (2017) — Eco-friendly fabrication of Ag nanostructures using the seed extract of Pedalium murex, an ancient Indian medicinal plant: Histopathological effects on the Zika virus vector Aedes aegypti and inhibition of biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. · Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
19.PMID: 20566443 (2010) — Scrutinizing the aqueous extract of leaves of pedalium murex for the antiulcer activity in rats. · Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
20.PMID: 30501796 (2019) — Enhanced Antibacterial Activity and Photo-Catalytic Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles: Pedalium Murex Plant Extract-Assisted Synthesis. · Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology
21.PMID: 22732724 (2012) — A comparative study of ethanolic extracts of Pedalium murex Linn. fruits and sildenafil citrate on sexual behaviors and serum testosterone level in male rats during and after treatment. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
22.PMID: 22557365 (2010) — EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC FRUIT EXTRACT OF Pedalium murex Linn. IN ETHYLENE GLYCOL INDUCED UROLITHIASIS IN MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS. · Ancient science of life
23.PMID: 42070473 (2026) — Integrative network pharmacology and molecular simulations reveal the Anti-DKD potential of Pedalium murex phytocompounds via TNF-α and NF-κB inhibition. · Journal of molecular graphics & modelling
24.PMID: 23710567 (2014) — Evaluation of 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of certain herbs useful as antiandrogens. · Andrologia
25.PMID: 38958905 (2025) — Biosynthesis, Structural, Spectroscopic, Photoluminescence, and Antifungal Activity of Ni-doped CeO2 Nanoparticles. · Journal of fluorescence
26.PMID: 34305589 (2021) — Exploring Phytochemicals of Traditional Medicinal Plants Exhibiting Inhibitory Activity Against Main Protease, Spike Glycoprotein, RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase and Non-Structural Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Through Virtual Screening. · Frontiers in pharmacology
27.PMID: 22556586 (1992) — Herbal remedies of street vendors for some urino-genital diseases. · Ancient science of life
28.PMID: 21599889 (2011) — In vitro antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants against clinical isolates of oral cancer cases. · Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials