Gambhari Powder (Gmelina arborea) – The Ayurvedic Wellness Herb

1. Synonyms (नामानि / Nāmanī)

Sanskrit Names:
गम्भारी (Gambhārī), भद्रपर्णी (Bhadraparṇī), श्रीपर्णी (Śrīparṇī), मधुपर्णिका (Madhuparnikā), काश्मरी (Kāśmarī), काश्मीरी (Kāśmīrī), हीरा (Hīrā), कृष्णवृन्ता (Kṛṣṇavṛntā), मधुरसा (Madhurasā), महाकुसुमिका (Mahākusumikā), पीतरोहिणी (Pītarohiṇī)

Etymological meaning:

• गम्भारी — “गमे रससत्वात् भारोऽस्या” → Possessing richness or heaviness of essence and moisture.
• काश्मरी — “काशते इति काश्मरी” → Having shining and glistening foliage.
• मधुपर्णी — “मधु इव पर्णान्यस्याः” → Having sweet, attractive leaves.
• श्रीपर्णी — Having beautiful leaves that denote prosperity.
• भद्रपर्णी — Whose leaves are beneficial and auspicious.

2. Regional Names (प्रादेशिक नामानि / Prādeśika Nāmanī)

Botanical name: Gmelina arborea Roxb.
Family: Verbenaceae

3. Botanical Description (वनस्पति-विवरणम् / Vanaspati Vivarṇam)

• Habit: A moderate to large deciduous tree, attaining up to 18–20 meters (≈ 60 ft).
• Bark: Grey, smooth, exfoliating in scales.
• Leaves: 10–20 × 7.5–15 cm, broadly ovate, acuminate with rounded or heart-shaped base; opposite; petiole 5–7.5 cm long.
• Flowers: Yellow, tinged with brown, densely tomentose, borne in terminal or axillary panicles; Corolla 5-lobed.
• Fruit: A drupe, 2.5 cm, ovoid or obovate, fleshy, smooth, yellow when ripe; mildly aromatic.
• Flowering: March–April
• Fruiting: May–June
• Habitat: Found in sub-Himalayan tracts from Punjab to Assam, and throughout Central & South India; also in the Andaman Islands.

4. Chemical Constituents (रासायनिक संघटकाः / Rāsāyanika Saṅghatakāḥ)

Isolated Compounds:

• Sterols: β-Sitosterol, Campesterol, Stigmasterol, Stigmastanol
• Alcohols & Esters: Ceryl alcohol, Hentriacontanol-1, Cluytyl ferulate
• Phenolics & Lignans: Gmelinol, Isoarboreol, Arboreol, Epieudesmin, Gummadiol, Gmelanone, Gmelofuran
• Flavonoids: Apigenin, Luteolin, Quercetin
• Fatty Acids (Seed oil): Oleic, Linoleic, Palmitic, Myristic, Stearic, Arachidic, Lauric acids
• Carbohydrates: Arabinose, Galactose, Glucose, Rhamnose, Xylose (heartwood polysaccharides)
• Others: Betulin, Methyl-trans-p-methoxycinnamate, Benzoic acid, Octacosanol
• Biological Activity: Leaves exhibit antibiotic activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Nutritional/Other Components:
The fruit contains traces of butyric and tartaric acids and a saccharine resinous substance. Seeds yield a semi-drying fatty oil with greenish-yellow hue.

5. Properties and Therapeutic Uses (गुणाः तथा चिकित्सोपयोगाः / Guṇāḥ tathā Cikitsopayogāḥ)

Ayurvedic Properties:

Therapeutic Uses:

• Fruits:
• Br̥ṃhaṇa (body-building) and Vṛṣya (aphrodisiac)
• Rasāyana (rejuvenative) and Keśya (promotes hair growth)
• Useful in Vāta-Pitta disorders, excessive thirst, anemia (raktakṣaya), consumption (kṣaya), urinary retention (mūtravibandha)
• Acts as a hemostatic (Raktasāṅgrāhika) and Raktapitta-praśamana (alleviates bleeding disorders).
• Roots:
• One of the ten roots of the famous Daśamūla group.
• Decoction with licorice, honey, and sugar promotes lactation (stanya-janana).
• Leaves:
• Juice is used as demulcent in gonorrhea and cough.
• Paste with Apāmārga root and Salmalī-kaṇḍa in milk helps in hyperacidity.
• Stem Bark:
• Used traditionally for fermentation of toddy.
• Timber is durable and water-resistant; used in musical instruments and construction.

6. Dose (मात्रा / Mātrā)

Root powder    3–6 g
Fruit powder    1–3 g

Summary Table

Ref: Bhavaprakash Nighantu