Home · Herb knowledge · Aanai nerunjil
Herb knowledgeAanai nerunjil
Pedalium murex L. · Pedaliaceae
Aanai nerunjil, bada gokhru in Hindi, is large caltrops, a succulent, musky-smelling annual of sandy coasts and dry fields with a hard, four-spined fruit. Its leaves turn water thick and slimy when crushed in it, a striking mucilage effect. In the herb trade it is sold as bada gokhru, the big gokshura, beside the true gokshura, Tribulus terrestris, which is chota gokhru.
- Botanical name
- Pedalium murex L.
- Family
- Pedaliaceae
- Tamil
- Aanai nerunjil
- Hindi
- Bada gokhru
- Sanskrit
- Bṛhatgokṣura
- Parts used
- Fruit in lists, Whole plant in lists
- Habit
- Succulent annual of sandy coasts with four-spined fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Aanai nerunjil
It is a fleshy, branching annual, usually knee-high, with a musky smell.
The leaves are oval, fleshy and toothed, set in opposite pairs.
Bright yellow, tubular flowers grow singly in the leaf axils.
The fruit is hard, four-angled and pyramid-shaped, with a sharp spine at each corner.
Tribulus terrestris is a creeping plant with small five-pointed spiny fruits.
Traditional use of Aanai nerunjil
Ayurveda
Bada gokhru fruit is used in Ayurveda for urinary complaints, like gokshura.
Ayurvedic practice
Siddha
Aanai nerunjil is used in Siddha preparations for urinary and reproductive complaints.
Siddha practice
Household
Fresh leaves stirred in water or milk make it thick and slimy.
South Indian village practice
Modern notes on Aanai nerunjil
The mucilage is a complex polysaccharide that thickens water within minutes.
Studies on extracts are mostly laboratory and animal work.
Market gokshura sometimes contains Pedalium fruit in place of Tribulus.
Tribulus fruits break into five spiny sections, while Pedalium fruits stay whole with four corner spines.
Aanai nerunjil safety
The spiny fruits injure bare feet. Use the plant as medicine only under a trained practitioner.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows on sandy coasts and dry fields of India, Sri Lanka and tropical Africa.
Bees visit its yellow flowers.
Its spiny fruits catch on animals and spread.
Related plants
Questions about Aanai nerunjil
What is bada gokhru?
The trade name for this plant’s fruit.
Is Aanai nerunjil the same as gokshura?
No. True gokshura is Tribulus terrestris.
Why does Aanai nerunjil make water slimy?
Its leaves release mucilage.
Where does Aanai nerunjil grow?
On sandy coasts and dry fields.
Why does Aanai nerunjil smell musky?
Its leaves and stems have glandular hairs.
Can Aanai nerunjil be eaten?
No. It is not a food plant.
Sources
- Pedalium murex L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13114589 (Pedalium murex)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.