Goksura – Tribulus terrestris Linn.

Recent research on Tribulus terrestris (Laghu Goksura)

• The present study is aimed at examining the antilithiatic potency of the protein biomolecules of Tribulus terrestris, a plant that is a common constituent of herbal marketed preparations to treat urolithiasis. Find- ings suggest that this purified protein biomolecule from Tribulus terrestris could open a new vista in the medical management of urolithiasis. Aggarwal A, Tandon S, Singla SK, Tandon C. A novel antilithiatic protein from Tribulus terrestris having cytoprotective potency. Protein Peptide Lett. 2012 Aug; 19 (8): 812- 9.
• To Study the effect of acute and repeated dose administration of lyophilized aqueous extract of the dried fruits of Tribulus terrestris (LAET) on sexual function in sexually sluggish male albino rats. The findings of the present study validate the traditional use of T. terrestris as a sexual enhancer in the management of sexual dysfunction in males. Singh S, Nair V, Gupta YK. Evaluation of the aphrodisiac activity of Tribulus terrestris Linn in sexually sluggish male albino rats. J Pharmacol Pharmacology. 2012 Jan; 3 (1): 43- 7.
• The effect of oral exposure of acetAminophen (500 mg/ kg) in O. mossambicus at 24-h duration was evaluated. The Tribulus terrestris fruit extract (250 mg/ kg) showed remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Kavitha P, Ramesh R, Bhupesh G, Stalin A, Subramanian P. Hepatoprotective activity of Tribulus terrestris extract against acetaminophen-induced toxicity in a freshwater fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2011. Dec; 47 (10): 698- 706.
• Investigate the possible effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT) on endocrine sensitive organs in intact and castrated male rats as well as in a postmenopausal rat model using ovariectomized females. Tribulus terrestris was not able to stimulate endocrine sensitive tissues such as the prostate, seminal vesicle, uterus, and vagina in Wistar rats, indicating a lack of androgenic and estrogenic activity in vivo. Martino-Andrade AJ, Morais RN, Spercoski KM. Rossi SC, Vechi MF, Golin M, Lombardi NF, Greca CS, Dalsenter PR. Effects of Tribulus terrestris on endocrine sensitive organs in male and female Wistar rats, J Ethnopharmacology. 2010 Jan 8; 1 27 (1) 165- 70. Epub 2009 Sep 23.
• S. Acetone extracts of leaves and seeds from the Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae) were tested against mature and immature different mosquito vectors under laboratory conditions. It is confirmed from the LC50 values that the seed acetone extract of T. terrestris is more effective compared to leaf extracts. Singh SP, Raghavendra K, Singh RK, Mohanty SS, Dash AP. Evaluation of Tribulus terrestris Lin (Zygophyllaceae) acetone extract for larvicidal and repellent activity against mosquito vectors. J Community Dis. 200g Dec; 40 (4): 255- 61
• Anti-cancer activity- One of the three new steroidal saponins from the fruits of T. terrestris exhibited cytotoxic activity against a human malignant melanoma cell line (Behdir & khan, 2000).
• Nephroprotective activity- Nephroprotective activity was evaluated in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (80 mg /kg /day S.C.) in male albino rats, NR-AG-I (Containing C. nurvala, T. Terrestris, D. biflorus & Shilajit) and NR- AG-II (C. nurvala, B. diffusa S. officinarum & B. frondosa) were tested given for 12 days. Vera clearance and microscopical examinations of the kidney were performed after the treatment. Gentamicin caused nephrotoxicity as evidenced by a significant reduction in urea clearance and was prevented by both formulations. A study of renal microscopy showed necrosis, epithelial loss with granular degeneration, and fatty changes in gentamicin-treated rats and was reversed by both formulations. But, NR-I Proved to be a better formulation (due to the presence of T. terrestris)- (Samiulla & Harish, 2001). Simultaneous administration of T. terrestris (200g/ kg/ day p.o) and gentamycin to female rats decreased gentamycin-induced renal damage in both structural & functional terms. (Nagarkatti et al; 1994)
• Lithotriptic property- Aqueous extract of T. terrestris (5 g/ kg p. o./ day) was tested in 6 male rats in whom hyperoxaluria was induced. 24 hr urinary oxalate excretion reversed to normal, from 1.97 plus minus 0.314 to 0.144 plus minus 0.004 mg/ mg creatinine (p< 0.001) within 21 days of administration of the drug and retained so until 15 days after withdrawal of extract and sodium glycolate (Sangeetha et al; 1993). An ethanolic extract from fruits showed significant dose-dependent protection against urolithiasis induced by glass bead implantation in albino rats (Anand et al; 1994) The following reports are also available on the clinical effects of Goksura in urolithiasis Nair P.S. (BHU), 1966; Usha R. (Trivandrum), 1993 & Upadhyaya K.N. (BHU), 1995. Administration of aqueous extract and a significantly reduced urinary oxalate excretion, and a significant raise, in urinary glyoxylate excretion are also observed as compared to sodium glycolate-fed animals (Sangeet et al; 1994).
• Hepatoprotective activity- The hepatoprotective activity of T. terrestris is reported against CCl4– induced hepatotoxicity in rats (Lee et al, 1992)
• Diuretic activity-The decoction of fruits was found to possess a moderate diuretic activity in rats (Gujral et al; 1955).
• An alkaloid from T. terrestris produced a slight rise in B.P. and an appreciable rise in kidney volume (Chopra, 1956). Watery extract of Goksura possesses similar diuretic activity to urea both in rats and dogs. The diuresis was due to the potassium content of the extract (Karandikar et al; 1960).
• Aphrodisiac property-A new original preparation Tribestan has been obtained from T. terrestris having a stimulatory effect on sexual functions (Tomova, 1987).

Recent research on Pedalium murex (Brihat Goksura)

• Azhagu Madhavan, & Vinotha, P & Uma, V & Mahadevi, M. (2020). ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF Pedalium murex Linn METHANOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST A549 HUMAN LUNG CANCER CELL LINE. International Journal of Advance Research And Innovative Ideas In Education. Volume 5. 33-40. Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae), commonly called Large Caltrops, is understood for its pharmacological uses in the traditional medicine system. It is reported to possess excellent medicinal properties that help cure reproductive disorders, mainly impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhea also, and leucorrhoea in women. Apart from that, it also contains a remedy for urinary and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Pharmacologically, the plant has been explored for antiulcerogenic, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, sexual enhancer, mitigating, antidermatophytic, cancer prevention agent, antimicrobial and insecticidal exercises. The present review may be a bundle of data collected from the published research articles and highlights the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of P. murex. The high presence of methanolic extract our information will help develop a new formulation with therapeutic and economical value in the future. A549 cells treated with Pedalium murex leaves methanolic extract for different hours (6, 12, 24, and 36 hours) after the 36 hours the growth of the cells is controlled.
• Patel, Dk & Kumar, Raj & Prasad, Dr. Satyendra & Hemalatha, Siva. (2011). Pedalium murex Linn (Pedaliaceae) fruits: A comparative antioxidant activity of its different fractions. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. 1. 395- 400. 10. 1016/ S2221- 1691 (11) 60087- 7. To examine the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of different solvent fractions of Pedalium murex (P. murex) Linn fruits (Family: Pedaliaceae) as well as the correlation between the total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. In the present study, the antioxidant activities of P. murex were evaluated using six in-vitro assays, namely total antioxidant assay, DPPH assay, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging and deoxyribose scavenging assays, and total phenol contents were also investigated. The ethyl acetate (EA) fraction was found to have high levels of phenolic content (298.72± 2.09 mg GAE/g). The EA fraction exhibits higher total antioxidant capacity, a higher percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity (135.11± 2.95 µg/ mL), nitric oxide (200.57± 4.51µg/mL), hydrogen peroxide (217.91± 6.12 µg/mL), deoxyribose (250.01± 4.68µg/mL) and higher reducing power. The correlation coefficient (r (2) =0.914) was found to be significant between total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity. In general, the results indicate that the EA fractions are rich in phenolic antioxidants with potent free radical scavenging activity implying their importance to human health.

• Elumalai, Linn & Eswaraiah, Dr & Naresh, Munna & Sudheer, Vanamala & Naresh, Mandala. (2011). A REVIEW ON THERAPEUTIC USES OF PEDALIUM MUREX. IJRAP. 2. 1743-. The traditional system of medicine consists of a large number of plants with various medicinal and pharmacological importance and hence represents a priceless tank of new bioactive molecules. Pedalium murex is a small herb distributed in tropical Africa, Ceylon, India, and Mexico. It is commonly found in Deccan and some parts of Ceylon and Gujarat and its coastal areas of Southern India. It is commonly called Gokhru (Yaanai Nerinji) a member of the family Pedaliaceae. The plant is sweet, cooling, mucilaginous, diuretic, and inflammatory and used to treat digestive, carminative, tonic, spasmodic affections, amenorrhea, and vitiated conditions of Pita, inflammation, and general debility. This review will be helpful to create interest in Pedalium murex and may be useful in developing new formulations with more therapeutic and economical value.
• Thamizhmozhil, M. & Mulaicharam, A.R. & S. murugesh, S. murugesh. (2011). Phytochemical and pharmacognostic studies on Pedalium murex Linn. Int J Res Ayurveda Pharm. 2. 253- 258. Pedalium Murex Linn (entire plant) (Pedaliaceae), a plant of immense medicinal value was taken for the present study. It is essential to ensure the quality and purity of the popular fragrance plant. The entire plant of Pedalium Murex Linn was subjected to various Pharmacognostical evaluations like Morphological, Microscopical, and Powder analyses. Results have revealed clearly that the entire plant is genuine. The Phytochemical constituents of Leaves of Pedalium Murex Linn have been worked out. The dry powder of the entire plant was successfully extracted with Total Petroleum ether extract, Alcohol Extract, Chloroform extract, and Aqueous Extract. All the extracts were subjected to Preliminary Phytochemical screening. It showed the presence of Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Alkaloids, Steroids, and Flavonoids. As per Materia medica (Kirtikar and Basu), studies are required for the screening of various Pharmacological activities like plant pacifies vitiated Vata, Pitta, urinary retention, kidney stone, seminal weakness, amenorrhea, inflammation, flatulence, and fever.
• The acaricidal activity of aqueous extracts of 20 plant species at 10 percent concentration was evaluated against red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions by the leaf disc method. Among the plants, the extract of solanum virginianum and Eucalyptus deglupta caused the highest mortality of 93.33 and 85.57 43 percent of T. urticae respectively at 72 hours after treatment (HAT) followed by strychnia nux-vomica (82.23%), Colocasia esculenta (81.10%) and Cympogan schaenanthus (81.10%). Next in the order of efficacy were Curcuma longa, Dodonaea viscosa, Melia azedarach, Piper nigrum, Phyllanthus niruri, Cyprus rotundas, Azadirachta indica, Cynodon dactylon, and Andropogon murigatus which caused statistically similar acaricidal activity ranging from 72.23 to 64.43 percent Moderate acaricidal action was noticed in Cardiospermum halicacabum (56.67%) and Antigonon leptopus (51.10%). The least effective plants were Spathodea campanulata (45.57%), Murraya koenigii (42.23%) > Lantana camara (30.00%), Pedalium murex (30.00%) and Ocimum tenuiflorum (27.77%). Premalatha, K., Nelson, S. J., Vishnupriya, R., Balakrishnan, S., & Krishnan, V. P. (2018). Efficacy of plant extracts against Tetranychus urticae under in-vitro conditions. Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems, 24 (1), 44- 49.
• Pedalium murex Linn (family: Pedaliaceae) (P. murex) commonly known as Large Caltrops and Gokhru (India) is a shrub found in the Southern part, Deccan region of India and in some parts of Ceylon. Different parts of the plant are used to treat various ailments like cough, cold, and antiseptics. Interestingly, P. murex is reported traditionally to have an excellent cure in patients with reproductive disorders which are mainly impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhea as well as leucorrhoea in women. The plant has also benefited from complications like urinary tract disorder as well as gastrointestinal tract disorders. Phytochemically the plant is popular for the presence of a considerable amount of diosgenin and vanillin which are regarded as an important source and useful starting materials for synthesizing steroidal contraceptive drugs and isatin alkaloids. Other phytochemicals reported in the plant include quercetin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, amino acids (glycine, histidine, tyrosine, threonine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid), and various classes of fatty acids (triacontanoic acid, nonacosane, tritriacontane, tetratriacontanyl, and heptatriacontane-4-one). Pharmacologically, the plant has been investigated for antiulcerogenic, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal activities. From all these reports it can be concluded that the plant was found to have a better profile as a potential natural source for the treatment of various ranges of either acute or chronic disease. The overall database of our review article was collected from the scientific sources regarding all the information of the research article for P. murex published so far. Patel DK, Laloo D, Kumar R, Hemalatha S. Pedalium murex Linn.: an overview of its phytopharmacological aspects. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2011 Sep;4 (9):748-55. doi: 10. 1016/ S1995- 7645 (11) 60186- 7. PMID: 21967701.