Tribulus terrestris Health Benefits

Tribulus terrestris Health Benefits
Puncture Vine, Caltrop, Yellow Vine, and Goathead

According to Wikipedia, Tribulus terrestris is a flowering plant in the
family Zygophyllaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of
the Old World in southern Europe, southern Asia, throughout Africa, and
in northern Australia. It can thrive even in desert climates and poor soil.

Tribulus terrestris L is used in the Arabic folk medicine to treat various
diseases. Tribulus terrestris has been used a constituent in tonics in
Indian ayurveda practice, where it is known by its Sanskrit name,
"gokshura." In Iran, it is used for relieving rheumatic pain and as an
analgesic plant. [8]

The fruits of Tribulus terrestris contains different steroidal saponins.
[2]Researchers found some saponins are able to lower serum lipidemia
in rats. [7]

Tribulus terrestris is currently used to enhance physical performance
regardless of scientific evidence of effect. [1]

In Iraq, extracts from fruits, leaves and roots of Tribulus terrestris L. are
used as urinary anti-infective in folk medicine. In a study, all the extracts
from the different parts of the plant showed antimicrobial activity
against most tested microorganisms. The most active extract against
both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was ethanol extract
from the fruits with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.15
mg/ml against B. subtilis, B. cereus, P. vulgaris and C. diphtheriae. In
addition, the same extract from the same plant part demonstrated the
strongest antifungal activity against C. albicans with an MIC value of
0.15 mg/ml.[3]

In an animal study, Tribulus terrestris increases some of the sex
hormones, possibly due to the presence of protodioscin in the extract.
Thus, some researchers believe Tribulus terrestris may be useful in mild
to moderate cases of erectile dysfunction in rabbits and rats. [4]

Tribulus terrestris may benefit people at risk of diabetes, as its extracts
significantly decrease fasting glucose level in diabetic rats. [5] In
another rat study, researchers found that the protective effect of
Tribulus terrestris on STZ-induced diabetic rats may be mediated by
inhibiting oxidative stress. [9]

Tribulus terrestris is promoted to produce large gains in strength and
lean muscle mass in 5-28 days. However, researchers found T. terrestris
did not produce the large gains in strength or lean muscle mass that
many manufacturers claim can be experienced within 5-28 days. [6]

Reference

[1] Bucci LR. Selected herbals and human exercise performance, Am J
Clin Nutr. 2000 Aug;72(2 Suppl):624S-36S. [2] Su L, Chen G, Feng SG,
Wang W, Li ZF, Chen H, Liu YX, Pei YH. Steroidal saponins from Tribulus
terrestris. Steroids. 2008 Dec 30. [3] 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 Feb;9(2):154-9.
[4] 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 Jan;15(1-2):44-54. [5] 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 Sep;45(9):785-90. [6]
Rogerson S, Riches CJ, Jennings C, Weatherby RP, Meir RA,
Marshall-Gradisnik SM. The effect of five weeks of Tribulus terrestris
supplementation on muscle strength and body composition during
preseason training in elite rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res.
2007 May;21(2):348-53. [7] Guo Y, Shi DZ, Yin HJ, Chen KJ. Effects of
Tribuli saponins on ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in
hyperlipidemic rats. Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(2):309-16. [8] Heidari MR,
Mehrabani M, Pardakhty A, Khazaeli P, Zahedi MJ, Yakhchali M, Vahedian
M. The analgesic effect of Tribulus terrestris extract and comparison of
gastric ulcerogenicity of the extract with indomethacine in animal
experiments. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Jan;1095:418-27. [9] Amin A, Lotfy
M, Shafiullah M, Adeghate E. The protective effect of Tribulus terrestris in
diabetes. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Nov;1084:391-401.