Gambhari
Gmelina arborea Roxb.
Gambhari (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) is a plant drug, also called Bhadraparni, Kasmari and Kasmarya, 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.
| Botanical name | Gmelina arborea Roxb. |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae) · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Constituent of Dashamula in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; referenced in WHO regional traditional medicine databases for South-East Asia |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 8247889 · Wikidata Q311345 · NCBI Taxonomy 201509 |
| Sanskrit | Bhadraparni, काश्मरी (kāśmarī), Kasmarya, Pitakarohini, Sriparni |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Gambhar Khambhari, गम्भारी (gambhārī) |
| English | Candhar Tree |
| Tamil | Komizhpazham, Nilakumizh, Perunkurmizh |
| Malayalam | Kumbil, Kumizhin, Kumizhu, Kumpil |
| Telugu | Gumaditeku, Peggumudu |
| Kannada | Hannu, Seevani, Shivanigida |
| Marathi | Sivan |
| Bengali | Gamar, Gamargachha, Gambar |
| Gujarati | Seevan, Shivani hannu |
| Urdu | Gambhari |
| Punjabi | Gumhar, Khambhari, Kumhar |
| Oriya | Bhodroparnni, Gambhari |
| Assamese | Gomari |
Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I Vol II monograph 19 GAMBHARI (Fruit) and Vol III monograph 25 GAMBHĀRĪ (Stem), both of Gmelina arborea Roxb., Hindi: Gambhari (Punjabi: Khambhari); Flowers of India gives Hindi गम्हड़ Gamhar; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I Vol II monograph 19 GAMBHARI, Sanskrit: Kāśmarī, Kāśmarya, Pītakarohiṇī, Srīparṇī, Bhadraparṇī; Flowers of India gives the same in Devanagari (काश्मरी, श्रीपर्णी, भद्रपर्णी, गम्भारी, मधुमती). How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2012 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 1Other clinical studies and reviews
- 10Laboratory and animal studies
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 | Gambhari |
| Latin/Botanical | Gmelina arborea Roxb. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Gmelinol (lignan)
- Arboreol
- Isoarboreol
- Gmelanone
- Luteolin
- Apigenin-7-rutinoside
- Verbascoside (phenylethanoid glycoside)
- Paulownin (lignan)
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?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for arthritic and inflammatory conditions. Animal studies in rodent arthritis models have reported reduced swelling.
- Hridya (cardiotonic): traditionally used as a heart tonic. Research has reported cardioprotective activity, with reduced myocardial oxidative stress.
- Traditionally used for wounds. Studies in excision wound models have reported increased fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis.
What do recent studies show?
- 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 phytochemistry. Journal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33217516 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113593
Identified 69 phytochemicals including lignans, iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and flavone glycosides; confirmed multiple pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. 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
Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for general tonic and anti-inflammatory effects; Kashayam morning and evening
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
Synergistic Combinations
- Key ingredient in Dashamoola (10-root formulation)
- With Bilva and Shyonaka in Brihat Panchamoola
- With Ashwagandha for tonic and adaptogenic synergy
- With Guduchi for immunomodulatory combination
- With Shatavari for Rasayana (rejuvenation) formulation
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
- 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
Laboratory and animal studies10
- 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
- 2024. Process modeling and simulation of Gmelina arborea (GmW) and Mansonia altissima (MaW) wood dryingHeliyon. PMID 38268592 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24064
- 2023. Prenylated-coumarins from Gmelina arborea and evaluation for neurotrophic activityPhytochemistry. PMID 37279871 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113721
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 2016. Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Family: Verbenaceae) Extract Upregulates the β-Cell Regeneration in STZ Induced Diabetic RatsJournal of diabetes research. PMID 26881248 · doi:10.1155/2016/4513871
- 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
- 2012. In vivo antioxidant and vasodilating activities of Gmelina arborea (Verberaceae) leaves hexane extractJournal of complementary & integrative medicine. PMID 23045387 · doi:10.1515/1553-3840.1623
- 2012. Effect of aluminium toxicity on growth responses and antioxidant activities in Gmelina arborea Roxb. inoculated with AM fungiInternational journal of phytoremediation. PMID 22908633 · doi:10.1080/15226514.2011.619230
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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