Pharmacological effects of Tribulus Terrestris: A Review

Traditional medicine is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Herbal system of medicine is widely accepted and practiced not only in the India but also in the developed countries. In the present review various medicinal uses of Tribulus terrestris TT, an important herb commonly used in the folk medicine of many countries for different purposes have been discussed. It is a perennial plant belonging to Zygophyllaceae family extensively found in warm temperature and tropical regions all over the world.

In traditional medical practice, TT has been used as aphrodisiac, emollient, appetiser, digestive, anti helmenthic, cardiotonic, diuretic, anti-urolithiatic, antimicrobial agent. This herbal drug also exhibits antioxidant, antihypertensive and anti hyperlipedemic activity. This review focuses on the scientific validation of the various therapeutic uses of Tribulis terrestris (Gokhru).