Kontakt 2013, 15(4):470-477 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.055

Tribulus terrestris - discussed phytopharmaconBiomedicine - Review

Zdeňka Navrátilová1,*, Jiří Patočka2
1 Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Přírodovědecká fakulta, katedra botaniky
2 Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra radiologie, toxikologie a ochrany obyvatelstva

Tribulus terrestris (caltrop) is a flowering plant of the family Zygophyllaceae, native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Old World, in Southern Europe, Southern Asia, throughout Africa, and Australia. Tribulus terrestris has been long used in the traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for the treatment of various ailments and is popular for the improvement of sexual functions in a human. Lately, it's one of the most discussed herbs. Studies on the active substances of Tribulus terrestris led to the isolation of many biologically active compounds: steroidal saponins of furostanol and spirostanol type, flavonoids and phytosterols, alkaloids, organic acids, amino acids and carbohydrates.
It has been proved that the active substances exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, diuretic, hypotensive and antidiabetic activity. All the tests have also shown that biologically active substances exhibit significant effects on the reproductive system. They increase libido in both men and women, increase sperm production and erection, also increase level of sex hormones - testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and luteinizing hormone. In animals this plant increases mating frequency and shortens the interval between ejaculations. These positive effects on the reproductive system were verified in a large number of animal studies, there are not many human studies, though they also confirm these effects. Tribulus is not very poisonous plant, but it is not completely safe. Experiments have shown that it causes liver and kidney damage in rats and also shows neurotoxicity.

Keywords: Tribulus terrestris; phytopharmacon; ethnobotany; pharmacology; toxicology; reproductive system

Received: March 10, 2013; Accepted: July 20, 2013; Published: December 20, 2013  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Navrátilová Z, Patočka J. Tribulus terrestris - discussed phytopharmacon. Kontakt. 2013;15(4):470-477. doi: 10.32725/kont.2013.055.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Singh S, Nair V, Gupta YK. Evaluation of the aphrodisiac activity of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in sexually sluggish male albino rats. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3(1):43-7. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    2. Wight R. Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis; 1846, vol. 1. [online]. [cit. 2013-03-10]. Dostupné z: http://botanicalillustrations.org/illustration.php?id_illustration=129616
    3. Hrouda L. Tribulus L. In: Slavík B (ed.). Květena ČR 5. Academia Praha; 1997, 568 s.
    4. WHO (World Health Organization). WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants Vol. 4. WHO; 2009, 444 p.
    5. Bensky D, Clavey S, Stoger E (eds.). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica 3rd ed. Eastland Press; 2004, 1311 p.
    6. Wu J-N. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. Oxford University Press New York; 2005, 706 p.
    7. Liddell HG, Scott R. A Greek-English Lexicon. Revised and Augmented by Jones HS, McKenzie R. Clarendon Press Oxford; 1940, 2042 p.
    8. Pražák JM, Novotný F, Sedláček J. Latinsko-český slovník. Česká grafická unie Praha; 1948, 1425 s.
    9. Hais K, Hodek B. Velký anglicko-český slovník I. A-E. Academia Praha; 1991.
    10. Žákovský P. Nášlapný ježek. Příspěvek k poznání jedné opomíjené středověké a raně novověké militarie. SPFFMU. M. 2009;12-13(1):115-132.
    11. Al-Bayati FA, Al-Mola HF. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of different parts of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Iraq. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2008;9(2):154-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Hempen C-H. A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine: Plants, Minerals and Animal Products. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Munich; 2009, 1016 p.
    13. Ukani MD, Nanavati DD, Mehta NK. A review on the ayurvedic herb Tribulus terrestris L. Anc Sci Life. 1997;17(2):144-50. Go to PubMed...
    14. Wu T-S, Shi L-S, Kuo S-C. Alkaloids and other constituents from Tribulus terrestris. Phytochemistry. 1999;50(8):1411-15. Go to original source...
    15. Bremner J, Sengpracha W, Southwell I, Bourke C, Skelton B, White A. The Alkaloids of Tribulus terrestris: A Revised Structure for the Alkaloid Tribulusterine. Acta Hort. 2005;677:11-17. Go to original source...
    16. Khan IA, Abourashed EA. Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics 3rd ed. Wiley Hoboken, New Jersey; 2009, 810 p.
    17. Kianbakht S, Jahaniani F. Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Tribulus terrestris L. Growing in Iran. IJPT. 2003;2(1):22-4.
    18. Zhang JD, Xu Z, Cao YB, Chen HS, Yan L, An MM, et al. Antifungal activities and action mechanisms of compounds from Tribulus terrestris L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(1):76-84. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Hussain I, Khan FA, Khan H, Rehman S, Badrullah. Antimicriobial, Phytochemical and Fluorescence Studies on Tribulus terrestris. JPR. 2011;4(5):1556-8.
    20. Zheleva-Dimitrova D, Obreshkova D, Nedialkov P. Antioxidant activity of Tribulus terrestris - a natural product in infertility therapy. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2012;4(4):508-11.
    21. Kamboj P, Aggarwal M, Puri S, Singla SK. Effect of aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate-induced oxidative stress in rats. Indian J Nephrol. 2011;21(3):154-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Rajendar B, Bharavi K, Rao GS, Kishore PV, Kumar PR, Kumar CS, Patel TP. Protective effect of an aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris Linn on cadmium-induced testicular damage. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011;43(5):568-73. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Lakshmi GD, Kumar PR, Bharavi K, Annapurna P, Rajendar B, Patel PT, et al. Protective effect of Tribulus terrestris Linn on liver and kidney in cadmium intoxicated rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 2012;50(2):141-6.
    24. Kavitha P, Ramesh R, Bupesh G, Stalin A, Subramanian P. Hepatoprotective activity of Tribulus terrestris extract against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in a freshwater fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2011;47(10):698-706. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    25. Nalwaya N, Jarald EE, Asghar S, Ahmad S. Diuretic activity of a herbal product UNEX. Int J Green Pharm. 2009;3(3):224-7. Go to original source...
    26. Jarald EE, Kushwah P, Edwin S, Asghar S, Patni, SA. Effect of Unex on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011;43(4):466-8. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Al-Ali M, Wahbi S, Twaij H, Al-Badr A. Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;85(2-3):257-60. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    28. El-Tantawy WH, Hassanin LA. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of alcoholic extract of Tribulus alatus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: a comparative study with T. terrestris (Caltrop). Indian J Exp Biol. 2007;45(9):785-90.
    29. Li M, Qu W, Wang Y, Wan H, Tian C. Hypoglycemic effect of saponin from Tribulus terrestris. Zhong Yao Cai. 2002;25(6):420-2. [Article in Chinese] Go to PubMed...
    30. Sharifi AM, Darabi R, Akbarloo N. Study of antihypertensive mechanism of Tribulus terrestris in 2K1C hypertensive rats: role of tissue ACE activity. Life Sci. 2003;73(23):2963-71. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Somanadhan B, Varughese G, Palpu P, Sreedharan R, Gudiksen L, Smitt UW, Nyman U. An ethnopharmacological survey for potential angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors from Indian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;65(2):103-12. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    32. Arcasoy HB, Erenmemisoglu A, Tekol Y, Kurucu S, Kartal M. Effect of Tribulus terrestris L. saponin mixture on some smooth muscle preparations: a preliminary study. Boll Chim Farm. 1998;137(11):473-5. Go to PubMed...
    33. Adaikan PG, Gauthaman K, Prasad RN, Ng SC. Proerectile pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on the rabbit corpus cavernosum. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2000;29(1):22-6.
    34. Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP. The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction - an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat. Phytomedicine. 2008;15(1-2):44-54. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    35. Aung HH, Dey L, Rand V, Yuan CS. Alternative therapies for male and female sexual dysfunction. Am J Chin Med. 2004;32(2):161-73. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    36. Kostova I, Dinchev D. Saponins in Tribulus terrestris - chemistry and bioactivity. Phytochem Rev. 2005;4(2-3):111-37. Go to original source...
    37. Gauthaman K, Adaikan PG, Prasad RN. Aphrodisiac properties of Tribulus terrestris extract (Protodioscin). Life Sci. 2002;71(12):1385-96. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    38. Tyagi RM, Aswar UM, Mohan V, Bodhankar SL, Zambare GN, Thakurdesai PA. Study of Furostenol Glycoside Fraction of Tribulus terresteris on Male Sexual Function in Rats. Pharm Biol. 2008;46(3):191-8. Go to original source...
    39. Gauthaman K, Ganesan AP, Prasad RN. Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin): an evaluation using a rat model. J Altern Complement Med. 2003;9(2):257-65. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    40. Karimi Jashni H, Malekzadeh Shiravani S, Hooshmand F. The effect of the Tribulus terrestris extract on spermatogenesis in the rat. JJUMS. 2102;9(4):7-11. Go to original source...
    41. Bashir A, Tahir M, Samee W, Munir B. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on testicular development of immature albino rats. Biomedica. 2009;25(1):63-8.
    42. Al-Yaver M, Hassan AJ, Haddad FYS, Al-Anee H, Al-Khateeb E. Effects of AL-Qutub (Tribulus terrestris) on the Spermatogenesis of the Mouse Testis: Histological, Histochemical and Morphometrical Studies. J Fac Med Baghdad. 2008;50(2):246-54.
    43. Dehghan A, Esfandiari A, Bigdeli SM. Alternative treatment of ovarian cysts with Tribulus terrestris extract: a rat model. Reprod Domest Anim. 2012;47(1):e12-e15. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    44. Kavitha P, Subramanian P. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on monosex production in Poecilia latipinna. Curr Sci. 2011;101(1):100-4.
    45. Cek S, Turan F, Atik E. The effects of Gokshura, Tribulus terrestris, on sex reversal of Guppy, Poecilia reticulata. PJBS. 2007;10(5):718-25. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    46. Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005, 684 p.
    47. Prakash D, Singh PN, Wahi SP. An evaluation of Tribulus terrestris Linn (Chota Gokharu). Indian Drugs. 1985;22(6):332-3.
    48. Talasaz AH, Abbasi MR, Abkhiz S, Dashti-Khavidaki S. Tribulus terrestris-induced severe nephrotoxicity in a young healthy male. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2010;25(11):3792-3. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    49. Aslani MR, Movassaghi AR, Mohri M, Pedram M, Abavisani A. Experimental Tribulus terrestris poisoning in sheep: clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. Vet Res Commun. 2003;27(1):53-62. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    Return to the content