Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Effects of Tribulus Terrestris
Summary
Tribulus terrestris, a perennial herb in the Zygophyllaceae family, synthesises a rich array of phytochemicals including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenolic carboxylic acids and alkaloids. The furostanol and spirostanol saponins are widely recognised as the principal bioactive constituents, exhibiting membrane-modulating, hormone‐mimetic and cytoprotective activities. Flavonoids and phenolic acids confer antioxidant and enzyme‐modulating effects, while minor alkaloids and terpenoids contribute anti‐inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Variability in phytochemical profile depends on plant organ, geographic origin and extraction method, underlining the need for standardised protocols. Pharmacologically, extracts of T. terrestris have been investigated for aphrodisiac, antiglycaemic, anti‐inflammatory, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects, with mechanisms implicating nitric oxide modulation, transcriptional regulation of inflammatory mediators and insulin‐mimetic pathways. Human and animal studies have reported improvements in sexual function, glycaemic control and inflammatory markers, though inconsistent methodology and extract standardisation have led to divergent results. Continued efforts focus on linking precise phytochemical fingerprints to specific pharmacodynamic actions, optimising extraction techniques and conducting rigorous clinical trials to substantiate therapeutic claims.
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Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Effects of Tribulus Terrestris publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and pharmacological effects of tribulus terrestris across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Saponins: Glycosidic compounds with a steroid or triterpenoid core, responsible for membrane‐interacting and hormone‐modulating effects.
Flavonoids: Polyphenolic secondary metabolites with antioxidant, enzyme‐modulating and vascular‐protective activities.
LC-ESI-QTOF-MS: An analytical platform combining liquid chromatography, electrospray ionisation and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for comprehensive metabolite profiling.
NF-κB: A transcription factor central to the regulation of inflammatory gene expression.
MAPKs: Mitogen-activated protein kinases, a family of signalling enzymes that mediate cellular responses to stress and inflammatory stimuli.
References
- Untargeted screening of plant metabolites based on data-independent and data-dependent acquisition modes using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS: Tribulus terrestris L. as a case study. Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2023).
- A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L.. Biomolecules (2020).
- Furostanol and Spirostanol Saponins from Tribulus terrestris. Molecules (2016).
- Anti-hyperglycaemic Activity of Tribulus terrestris L Aerial Part Extract in Glucose-loaded Normal Rabbits. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2016).
- Tribulus terrestris L. Extract Protects against Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Inflammation in RAW 264.7 Macrophage and Zebrafish via Inhibition of Akt/MAPKs and NF‐κB/iNOS‐NO Signaling Pathways. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2021).
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