Gambhari Phala (Gmelina Arborea Fruit): Benefits, Evidence & Safety

TL;DR

Gambhari phala is the fruit of Gmelina arborea, called Kashmari in Ayurveda and described in the classical tradition as a nutritive, rejuvenative (balya, rasayana) fruit. Lab studies report antioxidant and antibacterial effects and blood-sugar reduction in diabetic rats, but no human trials have tested the fruit. (46 words. Sources: Kumbhar et al. 2023; Nayak et al. 2012.)

What it is

Gambhari phala is the fruit of Gmelina arborea Roxb., a large deciduous tree of the Lamiaceae family (older classifications place it in Verbenaceae), known in English as white teak. In Sanskrit the tree is called Gambhari, with the fruit-bearing synonyms Kashmari and Kashmarya; Shriparni, Madhuparni, and Bhadraparni are other classical names. The fruit is a smooth ovoid drupe that ripens orange-yellow. It is distinct from the tree's root and stem bark: the root is the well-known Dashamoola ingredient (the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia standardizes "Gambhari (St.)", the stem, in Part I Vol III), while phala specifies the fruit drug. (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I Vol III contents; IJRAP classical review of Gambhari)

Traditional use

In the classical tradition the fruit is valued as food-medicine. A 2023 study in an Ayurvedic research journal states that Draksha (grape) and Kashmari (the Gambhari fruit) are "best nutritive fruits mentioned in Ayurveda" and that both are recommended as balya (strength-promoting), pittashamaka (pitta-pacifying), and rasayana (rejuvenative). The same study measured the fruit's composition as 2.84% fat, 8.0% carbohydrates, 6.0% protein, and 2.30% fibre, with a nutritional value of 81.56 Cal per 100 g. (Kumbhar et al., 2023%20and%20Kashmari%20(Gmelina%20Arborea%20ROXB.)))

Classical categorization work on Gambhari (Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm., 2023) records Charaka placing Gambhari among the shothahara (inflammation-relieving), dahaprashamana (burning-sensation-relieving), and virechanopaga groups, and Sushruta among the sarivadi and brihat-panchamoola groups: though these groupings concern the drug as a whole, chiefly the root and stem. (IJRAP review, 2023) All traditional indications remain traditional use, not clinical proof.

What modern research says

Antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activity of fruit extracts (in-vitro and animal)

Nayak, Ellaiah, and Dinda investigated extracts of Gmelina arborea fruits prepared with ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and petroleum ether. Only the ethanol extract showed significant antibacterial activity against the human pathogens Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (compared against streptomycin). The extracts showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity in DPPH free-radical scavenging and reducing-power assays, with the ethanol extract performing best. In alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats, all the extracts reduced blood sugar, again with the ethanol extract showing good antidiabetic activity. The authors concluded the fruit extracts possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities: at the laboratory and animal level only. (ResearchGate record of Nayak et al.)

Nutritional and antioxidant profiling of the fresh fruit (in-vitro)

Kumbhar, Mallya, and colleagues (2023) analyzed fresh Kashmari fruit collected in the fruiting season. Nutritionally it contained 2.84% fat, 8.0% carbohydrates, 6.0% protein, and 2.30% fibre (81.56 Cal/100 g). On antioxidant testing, Kashmari showed better antioxidant potential than Draksha in the DPPH assay, hydroxyl-radical scavenging activity, and total phenolic content, with no difference between the two fruits in reducing-power activity. The authors concluded both fruits contain good nutritive components and antioxidant property. This is compositional and laboratory work: it does not show the fruit prevents or treats any disease. (Kumbhar et al., 2023%20and%20Kashmari%20(Gmelina%20Arborea%20ROXB.)))

No human trials found

No human clinical trials of gambhari phala were found. The antidiabetic and antibacterial findings come from rat and petri-dish work and cannot be translated into treatment claims.

Safety & contraindications

FAQs

What is gambhari phala?

Gambhari phala is the fruit of Gmelina arborea (white teak), a drupe that ripens orange-yellow. In Ayurveda the tree is called Gambhari and the fruit Kashmari or Kashmarya, and it is classed among the nutritive, rejuvenative fruits: distinct from the tree's root and stem bark, which are the Dashamoola ingredients. (Kumbhar et al., 2023%20and%20Kashmari%20(Gmelina%20Arborea%20ROXB.)))

What is Kashmari in Ayurveda?

Kashmari is the Sanskrit name for the Gambhari fruit. A 2023 Ayurvedic research paper describes Kashmari alongside Draksha (grape) as one of the "best nutritive fruits mentioned in Ayurveda," recommended traditionally as balya (strength-promoting), pittashamaka (pitta-pacifying), and rasayana (rejuvenative). This is a classical characterization, not a clinical finding. (Kumbhar et al., 2023%20and%20Kashmari%20(Gmelina%20Arborea%20ROXB.)))

Does research support gambhari fruit for blood sugar?

Only in rats. Nayak and colleagues found that fruit extracts reduced blood sugar in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats, with the ethanol extract performing best. No human studies of the fruit exist, so there is no evidence it lowers blood sugar in people, and it is not a diabetes treatment. (ResearchGate record of Nayak et al.)

Is gambhari fruit the same as the Dashamoola root?

No. Dashamoola uses the roots of ten plants including Gambhari (Gmelina arborea root); the fruit is a separate part with its own traditional role as a nutritive, rejuvenative fruit. The pharmacopoeial monograph "Gambhari (St.)" covers the stem, underscoring that different parts are standardized separately. (API Part I Vol III contents)

Can I eat gambhari fruit?

The ripe fruit is traditionally regarded as an edible, nutritive fruit, and laboratory analysis found a reasonable nutritional profile including protein, fibre, and phenolic compounds. But concentrated extracts or powders sold as medicine are a different matter: their safety is unstudied, so treat them as medicines rather than food, and consult a qualified practitioner first. (Kumbhar et al., 2023%20and%20Kashmari%20(Gmelina%20Arborea%20ROXB.)))

Is gambhari phala safe in pregnancy?

No pregnancy safety data for the fruit was found in any source. Because the evidence base is essentially limited to animal and laboratory studies, medicinal-dose use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding should be avoided unless a qualified clinician advises otherwise.

Sources

Tier 1 — pharmacopoeia, peer-reviewed journals

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner before using any Ayurvedic preparation, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medicines.