Tribulus terrestris Linn.

Family : Zygophyllaceae.

 Tribulus terrestris

 

Habitat Throughout India, up to 5,400 m.

English Land-Caltrops, Puncture Vine.

Ayurvedic Gokshura, Gokshuraka, Kshudra (Laghu) Gokharu, Shvadamshtraa, Swaadu-kantaka, Trikanta, Trikantaka. (Larger var. is equated with Pedalium murex Linn. The fruits of both the varieties are conical and have four spines, not three as the synonyms denote. Hence, Acanthospermum hispidum DC. and Martynia annua Linn. Have been suggested as the source of Trikantaka.)

Unani Khaar-e-Khasak Khurd.

Siddha Sirunenunji, Nerinjil, Nerunjil.

Action Fruits—diuretic, demulcent, anti- inflammatory, anabolic, spasmolytic, muscle relaxant, hypotensive, hypoglycaemic. Used in strangury, calculus affections, urolithiasis, crystalluria, urinary discharges, pruritus-ani, as a tonic in sexual inadequacy; also as a supporting medicine in cough and asthma. Leaf—diuretic, haemostatic. Root—stomachic, diuretic.

In addition to all these applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India attributes cardiotonic properties to the root and fruit.

The plant contains sap onins, which on hydrolysis yield sapogenins—diosgenin, gitogenin, chlorogenin, ruscogenin, 25D-spirosta-3, 5-diene, among others. Flavonoids—rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-glucoside

and rutinoside, and tribuloside have been isolated from the leaves and fruits. The seeds contain carboline alkaloids— harmane and harmine. Harmol is also reported from the herb.

A saponin (unidentified) is reported effective for treating angina pectons in people with coronary heart disease (406 cases were treated). (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Diuretic (more than furosemide), proerectile aphrodisiac, hyp otensive, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic (40— 67% in diabetic mice) activities have been confirmed in several experimental studies. (Pub Med, Medline abstracts, 2003.)

Dosage Fruit—3—6 g powder.

 

 

Medicinal plants of India ; Ayurveda

Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants/Herbs mainly using in Ayurveda with good quality pictures and information like therapeutic usage of Medicinal Plants, cultivation, morphology, habitat, flower characters, Chemical content, parts used, research works etc.

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