Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Gambhari

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

Gambhari (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae) family. Constituent of Dashamula in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; referenced in WHO regional traditional medicine databases for South-East Asia.

Key facts
Botanical nameGmelina arborea Roxb.
FamilyLamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae) · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Pharmacopoeia statusConstituent of Dashamula in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; referenced in WHO regional traditional medicine databases for South-East Asia
Taxon identifiersGBIF 8247889 · Wikidata Q311345 · NCBI Taxonomy 201509

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishGambhari
Latin/BotanicalGmelina arborea Roxb.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Anti-inflammatory: Lignans (gmelinol, paulownin) and flavonoids inhibit COX-2, LOX-5, and suppress TNF-alpha and IL-6 production
  • Cardioprotective: Iridoid glycosides and flavonoids reduce myocardial oxidative stress and improve cardiac function through Nrf2 pathway activation
  • Immunomodulatory: Verbascoside enhances macrophage phagocytic activity and modulates Th1/Th2 cytokine balance

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

  • Anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory use validated by 45% reduction in swelling in rodent arthritis models over 14 days
  • Cardiotonic use (Hridya) supported by cardioprotective activity through reduction of myocardial oxidative stress
  • Wound healing use confirmed by promotion of fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in excision wound models

What do recent clinical trials show?

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • No significant toxicity reported in acute and subacute animal studies; traditional Dashamula formulation has a long safety record
  • Limited human clinical safety data; recommended to use within standard Ayurvedic dosage guidelines; not recommended in pregnancy without practitioner guidance

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (bark/fruit powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kwath Ghana (solid extract), Tablet, Capsule, Taila (medicated oil), Component of Dashamoola

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction twice daily; 500mg extract capsule twice daily; 10-20g fruit pulp

Bioavailability: Gmelina arborea root bark and fruit contain iridoid glycosides (gmelinoside, arboreol), flavonoids, and lignans. Iridoid glycosides have moderate oral bioavailability (20-40%) and are partially hydrolyzed in the GI tract to release aglycones with higher absorption. Fruit pulp provides natural sugars and mucilage that may enhance dissolution and GI transit time for better absorption. The bark Kashayam form is traditionally favored for systemic effects. Enhancement: self-emulsifying formulations for lipophilic lignans; co-administration with Trikatu for general bioenhancement.

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for general tonic and anti-inflammatory effects; Kashayam morning and evening

Standardized Extract: Root bark extract standardized to NLT 2% total iridoid glycosides by HPLC. Fruit extract: characterized by sugar profile and HPTLC fingerprint. Extract ratio 6:1 to 8:1.

Shelf Life: 2 years (bark powder); 2 years (fruit powder); 3 years (tablet/capsule); 3 years (Taila)

Storage: Bark powder: airtight containers below 25 deg C, protected from moisture. Fruit preparations: refrigerate fresh pulp, dried powder in moisture-proof containers. Taila: amber glass at room temperature.

Marker Compounds: Gmelinoside, Arboreol, Ursolic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Hentriacontanol

Extraction Methods

  • Aqueous decoction of root bark (traditional Kashayam)
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (60:40 ethanol:water)
  • Cold maceration of fruit pulp
  • Spray-dried aqueous extract for Kwath Ghana
  • Sesame oil processing for Taila

Synergistic Combinations

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

  1. Omotoso OB, Onabanjo OV, Fajemısın AN and others. 2023. Dietary effects of Gmelina arborea × Panicum maximum forages on digestibility and haematological characteristics of ramsTropical animal health and production. PMID 37014584 · doi:10.1007/s11250-023-03558-8

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Warrier RR, Priya SM, Kalaiselvi R. 2021. Gmelina arborea- an indigenous timber species of India with high medicinal value: A review on its pharmacology, pharmacognosy and phytochemistryJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33217516 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113593

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. El Sayed AM, El Hawary S, Elimam H and others. 2025. Green synthesized Gmelina arborea Roxb leaves ZnO nanoparticles: DNA fingerprinting, phytochemistry, greenness and biological activitiesFitoterapia. PMID 41130466 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106943
  2. Ajike C, Enibe SO, Okonkwo UC and others. 2024. Process modeling and simulation of Gmelina arborea (GmW) and Mansonia altissima (MaW) wood dryingHeliyon. PMID 38268592 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24064
  3. Kubo M, Irimajiri R, Kawata M and others. 2023. Prenylated-coumarins from Gmelina arborea and evaluation for neurotrophic activityPhytochemistry. PMID 37279871 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113721
  4. Amarasiri SS, Attanayake AP, Arawwawala LDAM and others. 2022. Standardized aqueous stem bark extract of Gmelina arborea roxb. possesses nephroprotection against adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar ratsDrug and chemical toxicology. PMID 32865030 · doi:10.1080/01480545.2020.1811721
  5. Chandrasekharan S, Chinnasamy G, Bhatnagar S. 2022. Sustainable phyto-fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Gmelina arborea exhibit antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition activityScientific reports. PMID 34997051 · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04025-w
  6. Srinivasa C, Kumar SRS, Pradeep S and others. 2022. Eco-Friendly Synthesis of MnO(2) Nanorods Using Gmelina arborea Fruit Extract and Its Anticancer Potency Against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell LineInternational journal of nanomedicine. PMID 35250266 · doi:10.2147/IJN.S335848
  7. Sori R, Poojar B, Hodlur N and others. 2019. Effect of Gmelina arborea on learning and memory in amnesia-induced and non-amnesia groups of albino Wistar ratsJournal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology. PMID 31194680 · doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2018-0202
  8. Crous PW, Wingfield MJ, Burgess TI and others. 2017. Fungal Planet description sheets: 558-624Persoonia. PMID 29151634 · doi:10.3767/003158517X698941
  9. Lawrence L, Menon S, Vincent S and others. 2016. Radical scavenging and gastroprotective activity of methanolic extract of Gmelina arborea stem barkJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 27449207 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2016.06.003
  10. Kulkarni YA, Panjabi R, Patel V and others. 2013. Effect of Gmelina arborea Roxb in experimentally induced inflammation and nociceptionJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 24250144 · doi:10.4103/0975-9476.118697

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