Tribulus terrestris

Plants are potent biochemical factories and have been components of phytomedicine. Since time immemorial man is able to obtain from them a wondrous assortment of industrial chemicals. Plant-based natural constituents can be derived from any part of the plant like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc., which may contain active components. Sudan with its uniquely variable climatic conditions possesses a huge wealth of flora. Capparis decidua Family (Capparidaceae), Cyperus rotundus Family (Cyperaceae) and Tribulus terrestris Family (Zygophyllaceae) were used successfully in Sudanese folkloric medicine for treatment of inflammatory disorders.  The present review described Botanical description, biological activites and phytochemical profile of these three plants.

Marketed polyherbal syrup is made from five crude drug decoction, which acting with essential diuretic principles, which are Mimusops elengi, Santalum album, Crateva nurvala, Tribulus terrestris, Andropogon muricatus. The aim of this study is to evaluate diuretic activity of such marketed polyherbal formulation in wistar albino rat. Dose of marketed polyherbal syrup is 1ml/200gm, Frusemide10mg/kg. Evaluation of diuretic effect is done by measuring urine volume, sodium potassium and chloride excretion. We can conclude that marketed URIFLUX syrup produced notable diuretic effect which appeared to be comparable that produced by reference standard diuretic Frusemide.

Depression is a heterogeneous disorder that affects a person’s mood, physical health and behaviour. Despite progress in pharmacotherapy, in majority of patients depression goes undiagnosed and untreated. Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine, mentions a number of single and compound drug formulations of plant origin that are used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Tribulus terrestris (Gokshura) is used in Indian and Chinese system of medicine for treating various male reproductive disorders. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant potential of acute and chronic administration of Tribulus terrestris in forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Inbred Swiss Albino mice weighing 20-30g were used in the study. The vehicle distilled water ( (10ml/kg, p.o), imipramine (20mg/kg, p.o) and Tribulus terrestris  (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg, p.o. respectively) were administered 1hour prior to acute study. In chronic study, all drugs were given once a day for 10 days and the last dose was given 1hour before the experiment. Duration of immobility was noted in both the models. In our study, both imipramine and Tribulus terrestris significantly reduced the duration of immobility in both experimental models as compared to the animals in the control group. The antidepressant activity of Tribulus terrestris was comparable to that of standard drug imipramine. The results of the present study showed significant antidepressant activity of Tribulus terrestrisin animal models of depression