Gokshura (Tribulus): Traditional Uses, Modern Evidence & Safety

TL;DR

Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) is an Ayurvedic fruit traditionally used for urinary complaints and as an aphrodisiac. Trials show low-level evidence for erectile function but no robust proof that it raises testosterone; trial doses were 400–750 mg/day of extract. It appears tolerable short term, but a rare liver–kidney injury case means it is not risk-free, and pregnancy safety data are lacking.

What it is

Gokshura is Tribulus terrestris L., a low-growing plant of the Zygophyllaceae family; the fruit is the part used in Ayurvedic medicine (PMC review of traditional uses). It has been used for centuries in India and China as an herbal medicine and sexual stimulant, and is widely marketed today in "testosterone booster" supplements (systematic review). Its steroidal saponins are the phytochemicals most often invoked to explain its claimed hormonal effects, though the mechanism is not established (same review).

Traditional use

Ayurvedic practitioners have long used Gokshura as a diuretic, demulcent, and aphrodisiac, with the fruit noted for urinary complaints, including urinary tract infections and stones, and for sexual dysfunction (PMC review of traditional uses). The 2025 review's introduction likewise notes its centuries-long use in India and China as a sexual stimulant and for erectile dysfunction (systematic review). These are traditional uses, not clinical findings: the human evidence is assessed separately below.

What modern research says

Erectile dysfunction

A 2025 systematic review pooled 10 clinical studies (483 men, doses of 400–750 mg/day of extract for 1–3 months) and found that erectile dysfunction improved in 3 of the 5 studies that measured it: but half of the included studies were of low methodological quality, and the authors graded this as low-level evidence (Vilar Neto et al., 2025).

A separate randomized, placebo-controlled trial in men with mild erectile dysfunction found Tribulus not superior to placebo for erectile symptoms or for serum total testosterone (Santos et al., 2014). The evidence for erectile function is therefore inconsistent and weak.

Testosterone

Despite the marketing claims, the 2025 review found no robust evidence that Tribulus raises testosterone: 8 of the 10 studies reported no significant change in androgen profile. Only 2 studies, both in men with hypogonadism, showed small within-group increases in total testosterone of roughly 60–70 ng/dL, a modest magnitude (Vilar Neto et al., 2025).

Sexual function in women

One small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 40 premenopausal women with low sexual desire reported improved sexual-function scores and small changes in free and bioavailable testosterone after 250 mg three times daily for 120 days (Vale et al., Gynecological Endocrinology 2018). This is a single small, condition-specific trial: it does not generalize to "libido boosting" and has not been broadly replicated.

Dosage

There is no established therapeutic dose. The clinical trials in the 2025 review used 400–750 mg/day of Tribulus extract for 1–3 months, but the products were heterogeneous extracts and this range is a description of what was studied: not a recommendation (Vilar Neto et al., 2025). Do not assume a retail supplement matches a trial product.

Safety & contraindications

In the 10 studies of the 2025 review, no side effects were reported: but these were small, short (1–3 months), and often low-quality trials, so absence of evidence is not evidence of safety (Vilar Neto et al., 2025).

More sobering: a published case report describes serious liver and renal injury in a patient after two months of daily Tribulus supplementation. A case report cannot establish causality or incidence, it is a rare signal, not a rate, but it shows Tribulus is not risk-free, and anyone with liver or kidney disease should be especially cautious (case report). There are no reliable human safety data for pregnancy or breastfeeding: discuss any use with a qualified practitioner. People with hormone-sensitive conditions should also be cautious, given the herb's purported hormonal activity has not been well characterized.

FAQs

What is Gokshura?

Gokshura is the Ayurvedic name for Tribulus terrestris, a Zygophyllaceae plant whose fruit is used traditionally for urinary complaints and as an aphrodisiac (PMC review of traditional uses).

Does Tribulus raise testosterone?

There is no robust evidence that it does. A 2025 systematic review of 10 clinical studies found 8 reported no significant androgen change; only 2 small studies in hypogonadal men showed modest within-group increases of about 60–70 ng/dL (Vilar Neto et al., 2025).

Does Gokshura help erectile dysfunction?

Evidence is weak and inconsistent. The 2025 review found low-level evidence (improvement in 3 of 5 studies measuring it, with half the studies of low quality), while a placebo-controlled trial found Tribulus no better than placebo (Vilar Neto et al., 2025; Santos et al., 2014).

What dose of Tribulus was studied?

Trials used 400–750 mg/day of extract for 1–3 months across heterogeneous products: a description of research regimens, not a dosage recommendation (Vilar Neto et al., 2025).

Is Gokshura safe?

Short trials reported no side effects, but they were small and brief. A case report of serious liver and kidney injury after two months of daily use shows it is not risk-free. No reliable safety data exist for pregnancy or breastfeeding, and caution is warranted with liver or kidney disease (Vilar Neto et al., 2025; case report).

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.