Tribulus Terrestris (Gokhru)
Introduction: Tribulus terrestris is known as gokhru in Sanskrit. This name is derived from the appereance of the fruit, which resembles the cloven hoof of a cow. It is native to warm temperature and tropical regions. It grows throughout India, China, Vietnam, parts of Europe and South Africa. Fruit of this plant has been used as traditional medicine in India, China, Iraq, Greece and many other countries. It has been used as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, aphrodisiac, nephroprotective, bleeding control and for many other treatments. This plant is extremely rich in substances having potential biological significance, including: saponins, phytosterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans and other nutrients. Pharmacological Actions Diuretic:1,2 In one study, the aqueous extract of the leaves and fruits of Tribulus terrestris and the hair of Zea mays, were taken to determine their diuretic activity and the contractile effect of Tribulus terrestris. The results of the study showed that it has a great diuretic and contractile effect. Antibacterial activity:3,4 Aqueous extracts from fruits, leaves and roots of Tribulus terrestris were taken to test the antimicrobial activity of it. The test results of Tribulus terrestris demonstrated activity against the most prevalent Gram-negative bacteria in urinary infections. Nephroprotective activity:5,6 The renal damage produced by gentamicin was decreased when given simultaneously with Tribulus terrestris extract to rats. One of the study showed that it protects leucocytosis and elevation in serum urea levels when experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats. Microcirculation:7,8 Tribulus terrestris methanolic extract was used for the study to see the effect of it on the perfused mesenteric vascular bed. Alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist was used to raise perfusion pressure that was reversed in a dose dependent manner by tribulus terrestris extract. Another study suggested that dietary intake of Tribulus terrestris can significantly lower serum lipid profiles, decrease endothelial cellular surface damage and rupture and may partially repair the endothelial dysfunction resulting from hyperlipidemia. Bleeding Control: Tribulus terrestris is a smooth muscle relaxant and so reduces the menstrual pain + cramps and improves drainage of debris from the uterus and helps 'sanitize' the uterus. It also has 'androgenic' effects, which may help control excess bleeding due to hormonal imbalance. Herb Drug interactions: There are no known Herb Drug interactions. Safety:9,10 The ethanolic (95%) extract was tested in rats intraperitoneally and the LD50 was found to be 56.4mg/ kg. The maximum tolerated dose in mouse was 100g /kg. Reference 1 Muneer Al-Ali, Salman Wahbi, Husni Twaij and Ahmad Al-Badr. Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Apr; 85 (2-3): 257-60. 2 Sangeeta D, Sidhu H, Thind SK, Nath R. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate metabolism in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994 Oct; 44 (2): 61-6. 3 Firas A. AL-BAYATI, Hassan F. AL-MOLA Antibacterial and antifungal activities of different parts of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Iraq. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2008 9(2): 154-159 4 Kianbakht, S., Jahaniani, F., 2003. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Iran. Iranian J. Pharmacol. Ther., 2:22-24. 5 Nagarkatti DS, Rege NN, Mittal BV, Uchil DA, Desai NK, Dhanukar SA 1994 Nephroprotection by Tribulus terrestris. Update Ayurveda, Bombay. 6 Anand R, Patnaik GK, Kulshreshtha DK, Dhawan BN. Anand R, Patnaik GK, Kulshreshtha DK, Dhawan BN. Activity of certain fractions of Tribulus terrestris fruits against experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 1994 Aug; 32(8): 548-52. 7 Oludotun A. Phillips, Koyippalli T. Mathew, Mabayoje A. Oriowo Antihypertensive and vasodilator effects of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Tribulus terrestris in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 104 (2006) 351–355 8 Altug Tuncer M, Yaymaci B, Sati L, Cayli S, Acar G, Altug T, Demir R. Influence of Tribulus terrestris extract on lipid profile and endothelial structure in developing atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta of rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet. Acta Histochem. 2009 Mar 6. 9 Dhar,M.L; Dhar,M.M; Dhawan B.N; Mehrotra B.N; Ray C. Screening of Indian plants of biological activity: part 1 Ind.J. Exp. Biol., 1968: 6; 232-247 10 Chakraborty, B; Neogi N.C. Pharmacological properties of Tribulus terrestris Ind. J. Pharm. Sci., 1978: 40; 50-52.