Tumburu
Zanthoxylum armatum
Tumburu (Zanthoxylum armatum) is a plant drug, also called Tejohva, Tejovali and Tejovati. Alkaloids (chelerythrine, sanguinarine) have moderate bioavailability but are extensively metabolized hepatically. Essential oil terpenes (limonene, linalool) are well absorbed but undergo rapid first-pass metabolism.
| Botanical name | Zanthoxylum armatum |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 7716390 · Wikidata Q6170892 · NCBI Taxonomy 67938 |
| Sanskrit | Tejohva, Tejovali, Tejovati |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Nepali Dhaniya, Tejbal |
| Tamil | Thejyovathi |
| Malayalam | Thumboonal, Thumbooni |
| Telugu | Tumburl |
| Kannada | Tejapatri, Tejovanti, Tumburu |
| Marathi | Tejbal |
| Bengali | Nepali Dhania, Tejovati |
| Gujarati | Tejbal |
| Urdu | Kabab-e-Khanda (Miswak) |
| Punjabi | Tirmira |
| Oriya | Tejbal |
| Assamese | Tejovati |
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed). How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2019 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 2Other clinical studies and reviews
- 9Laboratory 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 | Tumburu |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Taila (medicated oil), Mouthwash
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g powder twice daily; 30-60 mL decoction twice daily; as mouthwash: 5-10 mL diluted and gargled
Optimal Timing: After meals for digestive support; mouthwash after meals for dental care; morning and evening dosing
Storage: Airtight containers at 15-25 deg C, protected from light and moisture. Essential oil in amber glass. Alkylamide content degrades with heat; avoid storage above 30 deg C.
Marker Compounds: Hydroxy-alpha-sanshool, Hydroxy-beta-sanshool, Limonene, Linalool, Chelerythrine, Sanguinarine, Tambulin, beta-Phellandrene
Synergistic Combinations
- Maricha (black pepper) - complementary bioenhancer action via different mechanisms
- Pippali - combined alkylamide activity
- Lavanga (clove) - dental/oral care synergy
- Haridra (turmeric) - anti-inflammatory potentiation
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.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2021. PRISMA Based Systematic Review: Pharmacognostic Study of Zanthoxylum armatum DCMini reviews in medicinal chemistry. PMID 33390134 · doi:10.2174/1389557521999201230200503
Other clinical studies and reviews2
- 2025. A review on pharmacological activities and phytochemical constituents of Zanthoxylum armatum DCNatural product research. PMID 39360474 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2024.2409984
- 2019. Zanthoxylum armatum DC.: Current knowledge, gaps and opportunities in NepalJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 30166217 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.08.010
Laboratory and animal studies9
- 2025. Genome-wide identification and characterization of the NF-Y proteins in Zanthoxylum armatumPeerJ. PMID 40585333 · doi:10.7717/peerj.19142
- 2024. Zanthoxylum armatum DC fruit ethyl acetate extract site induced hepatotoxicity by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibiting autophagy in BRL-3A modelsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 37802376 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117245
- 2024. Phytochemical screening of Zanthoxylum armatum roots and exploring its polyphenol content and antioxidant activityNatural product research. PMID 37565659 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2023.2244130
- 2023. Alkylamides from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and their neuroprotective activityPhytochemistry. PMID 37146703 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113704
- 2023. Karyotype and Phylogenetic Relationship Analysis of Five Varieties and Cultivars of Zanthoxylum armatum Based on Oligo-FISHGenes. PMID 37510363 · doi:10.3390/genes14071459
- 2023. Separation and Purification of Hydroxyl-α-Sanshool from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. by Silica Gel Column ChromatographyInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 36834566 · doi:10.3390/ijms24043156
- 2022. Two new lignans from Zanthoxylum armatumNatural product research. PMID 33289429 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2020.1855646
- 2022. Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Zanthoxylum armatum Fruit Essential Oil against Phytophthora capsiciMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36500729 · doi:10.3390/molecules27238636
- 2019. Standardization and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential of Zanthoxylum armatum fruitsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 30342965 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.10.018
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.
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