Draksha
Vitis vinifera
Draksha (Vitis vinifera) is a plant drug, also called Gostani, Mrdvika and Munkka. Resveratrol has low oral bioavailability (<1% as free resveratrol) due to rapid glucuronidation and sulfation. However, resveratrol metabolites (resveratrol-3-O-glucuronide, resveratrol-3-sulfate) retain partial biological activity.
| Botanical name | Vitis vinifera |
|---|---|
| Family | Vitaceae |
| Order | Vitales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5372392 · Wikidata Q30046 · NCBI Taxonomy 29760 |
| Sanskrit | Gostani, Mrdvika |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Munkka |
| English | Dry Grapes, Raisins |
| Tamil | திராட்சை, Drakshai, Kottai Drakshai |
| Malayalam | Munthringya |
| Telugu | Draksha |
| Kannada | Draksha |
| Marathi | Angur, Draksha |
| Bengali | Maneka |
| Gujarati | Drakh |
| Urdu | Munaqqa |
| Punjabi | Munaca |
| Oriya | Drakya, Gostoni |
| Assamese | Dakh, Munaqqa |
Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); University of Madras Tamil Lexicon (via agarathi.com): 'Common grape vine, l. cl., Vitis vinifera; கொடிவகை'. Also in the Tamil Tamil Akaramuthali as திராட்சைக்கொடி, and in McAlpin's Core Vocabulary as 'grape(s)'.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2017 to 2024, every one with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 11Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Grape, Raisin |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Madhura, Amla | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Guru, Snigdha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Madhura | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Swarasa (juice), Churna (dried fruit powder), Avaleha (confection/jam), Kashayam (decoction), Mridvika preparation, Capsule, Tablet
Standard Dosage: 10-20g dried grapes (Munakka) soaked and consumed; 50-100ml fresh juice; 5-10g powder twice daily; 1-2 teaspoons Avaleha twice daily
Optimal Timing: Soaked Munakka in the morning on empty stomach for mild laxative effect; juice/Avaleha after meals for digestive and tonic purposes; at bedtime with milk for Rasayana effect
Storage: Dried fruit: airtight, moisture-proof packaging below 25 deg C - susceptible to moisture absorption and microbial growth. Extracts and capsules: cool, dry place, light-protected. Avaleha: airtight glass/food-grade container at room temperature.
Marker Compounds: trans-Resveratrol, Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), Catechin, Epicatechin, Quercetin-3-glucoside, Malvidin-3-glucoside (anthocyanin), Gallic acid
Synergistic Combinations
- With Amalaki for antioxidant synergy and Rasayana effect
- With Yashtimadhu for respiratory and GI soothing combination
- With Pippali for enhanced resveratrol bioavailability
- With Guduchi for immune-tonic (Rasayana) formulation
- Used as Anupana (vehicle) for many formulations due to mild, sweet nature
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Randomised controlled trials1
- 2018. Efficacy of grape seed extract gel in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A randomized clinical studyJournal of investigative and clinical dentistry. PMID 29349878 · doi:10.1111/jicd.12318
Other clinical studies and reviews11
- 2024. Vitis vinifera L. Leaf Extract, a Microbiota Green Ally against Infectious and Inflammatory Skin and Scalp Diseases: An In-Depth UpdateAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39199997 · doi:10.3390/antibiotics13080697
- 2023. Vitis vinifera (Vine Grape) as a Valuable Cosmetic Raw MaterialPharmaceutics. PMID 37242614 · doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15051372
- 2023. Sirtuins, a key regulator of ageing and age-related neurodegenerative diseasesThe International journal of neuroscience. PMID 35549800 · doi:10.1080/00207454.2022.2057849
- 2022. Anticancer, Cardio-Protective and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Natural-Sources-Derived Phenolic AcidsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36364110 · doi:10.3390/molecules27217286
- 2021. A review on the origin of nanofibers/nanorods structures and applicationsJournal of materials science. Materials in medicine. PMID 34117944 · doi:10.1007/s10856-021-06541-7
- 2020. Grape juice or wine: which is the best option?Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 31920107 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2019.1710692
- 2019. An overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopeciaJournal of cosmetic dermatology. PMID 30980598 · doi:10.1111/jocd.12930
- 2018. Resveratrol as an anti-cancer agent: A reviewCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 28001084 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2016.1263597
- 2018. Aroma Precursors in Grapes and Wine: Flavor Release during Wine Production and ConsumptionJournal of agricultural and food chemistry. PMID 28220693 · doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.6b05255
- 2018. Anthocyanin Management in Fruits by FertilizationJournal of agricultural and food chemistry. PMID 29297687 · doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03813
- 2017. Potassium in the Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Berry: Transport and FunctionFrontiers in plant science. PMID 29021796 · doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01629
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.