A Review on Plant Profile, Standardization Method
and Pharmacological Activities of Tribulus
Terristries (Gokhru)
Pooja Deshpande, Suman Shrivastava, S.J.
Daharwal*
University
Institute of Pharmacy, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur-492010,
Chattisgarh, India.
*Corresponding Author: sjdaharwal@gmail.com
[Received: 24 February 2018; Revised
version: 04 April 2018; Accepted: 14 April 2018]
Abstract. Tribulus
terristries belongs to family zygophyllaceae and commonly known as Puncture vine, Tribulus including
goat's-head, bindii, bullhead, burra gokharu, bhakhdi, caltrop, small caltrops,
cat's-head, devil's eyelashes, devil's-thorn, devil's-weed, puncture vine, and
tackweed. Found widely distributed warmer regions of the world, throughout in
India, srilanka, west Tibet, consists of dried
fully ripen fruits of plant. Fruits are used
as Diuretics tonics and also in the treatment of calculous affections and
painful micturation, they are also used as aphrodiasic and in gout.
Standardization is a system ensuring predefined set of the quantity, quality
and therapeutic effect of the constituents in each dose. It is an imperative
stride in establishing a quality assurance plan for production and manufacturing
thereby, curtailing batch to batch variation and reassuring acceptability,
safety, quality and efficacy of the drug , Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and
high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint profiles are
used for ensuring the identity, transparency and potency of herbal formulations.
Key words:
Diuretics, Standardization, Fingerprint, Chromatography, Micturation.
Introduction
Gokhru consists
of dried fully ripen fruits of plant Tribulus terristries (TT)
Linn
(Fig 1), belongs to the Family zygophyllaceae, commonly known as puncture vine,
tribulus, TT is
very valued for the broad range of properties such as asthma, cough, splenetic
diseases, heart disorders, aching of limbs, striating urinary stones,
aphrodisiac, antiinflammatory, anthelmintic, diuretic and used in enemas, comes under the category
of saponin glycosides (Kokate et al., 2003).
Figure
1. (a): TT leaves and flowers (b):
Dried TT fruit
Scientific classification
Geographical distribution
Found widely distributed warmer regions
of the world, throughout in India, srilanka, west Tibet Flowering mainly takes
place in Rainy season; the month of collection is between October and November
(Kokate et al., 2003).
Range and
habitat
Native
to the Mediterranean
region, TT
is widespread throughout the world from latitudes 35°S to 47°N. It is
distributed across warm temperate and tropical regions of southern Europe, southern Asia,
throughout Africa, New Zealand, and Australia (Kokate et al., 2003).
Macroscopic characters
of gokhru
Colour – Fresh
and greenish to gray
Odour
– Odourless
Size
– 1.0 -1.5 cm
Shape – Fruits
are globose, consist of 5- 10 woody cocci, each with two pairs of hard and
sharp divergent spines (Kokate et al., 2003)
Microscopy of powdered gokhru
Gokhru
fruit develops from Penta carpellery syncarpous ovary giving rise to five fused
cocci, each coccus has two long sharp, strong spines on outer part and two
short, thick spines on the inner part, the diameter of the fruit 9μm, the
radial length of the coccus 3 μm, thickness of the coccus along tangential plain
750μm (Fig 2) (Yanala and Sathyanarayana, 2017).
Figure
2. Microscopy of gokhru
The microscopy
of gokhru shows the following elements:
Schelerids: These
are the major components of the powder; these are of two types
§ Fibre sclerides:
They are long narrow fibre like in shape and size their ends are tapering (fig
3).
Figure 3. Microscopy of gokhru
(Fibre sclerides)
§
Brachy
sclerides: Short, wide angular sclerides, they are wide, thick walled lobed
cells, numerous circular, simple cuts are seen in the walls (Fig.4 ) (Yanala
and Sathyanarayana, 2017).
Figure 4. Microscopy of gokhru (Brachy
sclerides)
Parenchyma
cells: Large mass is seen, the cells are thin walled, circular and possess
dense cytoplasm, average diameter is 8μm (Fig.5) (Yanala and Sathyanarayana,
2017).
Figure 5. Microscopy of gokhru
(Parenchyma Cells)
Trichomes: They
are abundant on fruit , they are sheltered in the powder and are of different
sizes , some are short and others are quite long short trichomes are less than
200μm , the longer trichomes are 450 μm (Fig.1.5 D) There are also thick
undulate trichomes simulating worms These vermiform trichomes have wide cell
lumen. The trichomes are 10 µm thick; their walls strongly lignified (Fig.6).
(Yanala and Sathyanarayana, 2017).
Figure
6. Microscopy of gokhru (Thick undulate trichomes and
vermiform trichomes)
§
Crystals:
Calcium oxalate crystals are abundant in the powder; they are prismatic type,
cuboidal, rhomboidal or polyhedral type (Fig.7) (Yanala
and Sathyanarayana, 2017).
Figure 7. Microscopy of gokhru (Calcium oxalate crystals)
Chemical constituents
The drug
contains traces of alkaloids, Harmine and Harman. Additionally, they contain saponins,
which on hydrolysis yield steroidal sapogenins like Diosgenin, Gitogenin,
Chlorogenin and Ruscogenin. The roots and leaves also contain saponin,
Flavonoids, Kaemferol, tribuloside and its derivatives, also consist of fixed
oil (3.5%),traces of essential oils , nitrates and other constituents of fruits,
the oil consist of excellent drying property (Kokate et al., 2003).
Standardization method
Quantitative test (Determine by thin-layer
chromatography, Coating the plate with silica gel GF254)
Mobile phase: A mixture of 8 volumes of toluene and 2 volumes of ethyl
acetate.
Test solution:
Reflux
5 g of coarsely powdered substance under examination with 50 ml of methanol for 15 minutes, cool and
filter. Reflux the residue further with 50 ml of methanol, cool and filter. Combine both the filtrates and concentrate
under vacuum to dryness. Extract the dried residue with 10 ml of methanol at 50° for 10 minutes,
filter the solution and use filtrates for analysis. (Indian Pharmacopoeia, vol.,
2014)
Reference solution: Reflux 2.5 g of gokhru RS with 50 ml of methanol for 15 minutes, cool and filters.
Reflux the residue further with 50 ml of methanol,
cool and filter. Combine both the filtrates and concentrate under vacuum
to dryness. Extract filter the solution and use the filtrates for analysis. Apply
to the plate 20 pl of each solution as bands 10 mm by 2 mm. Allow the mobile
phase to rise 8 cm. Dry the plate in air and examine under ultraviolet light at
254 nm and 365 nm, spray with anisaldehyde
sulphuric acid reagent. Heat the plate at 105° for 5 minutes and examine
in day light. The chromatographic profile of the test solution is similar to
that of the reference solution (Indian Pharmacopoeia, vol. 2014).
Qualitative
test
Phytochemicals such as alkaloids,
flavonoid, phenols and saponins (Singh et al., 2013), were reported to be
present in TT. The TT extracts (fruit, bark, roots and leaves) contain a resin,
fat and mineral matter and showed potential therapeutic properties. The inorganic
constituents found in TT are chloride, calcium, sulphate, potassium, magnesium
and total alkalinity. The fruits contain (0.001%) of alkaloid, essential oil,
resin and nitrates (Vyawahare et al., 2014). Phytoconstituents are just like
immunological weapons for medicinal plants that are potentially used to
overcome various biotic and abiotic stress conditions (Patil and Ladea,
2016).
Pharmacological activities of gokhru
Fruits
are used as Diuretics tonics and also in the treatment of calculous affections
and painful micturation, they are also used as aphrodiasic and in gout, used in
blood pressure, heart diseases, abdominal dysfunctions, edema, eye problems. TT is very valued for the broad
range of properties such as asthma, cough, splenetic diseases, heart disorders,
aching of limbs, striating urinary stones, aphrodisiac, antiinflammatory,
anthelmintic, diuretic and used in enemas. The leaves are used in
pharmaceutical industry for preparation of herbal tonic, it plays important
role in, digestive problems, to increase spermatozoa and treat urinary tract
infection (Patil
and Ladea, 2016).
Diuretic
activity
The
diuretic properties of TT are due to large quantities of nitrates and essential
oil present in its fruits and seeds. The diuretic activity can also be
attributed to the presence of potassium salts in high concentration. Ali et al. tested the aqueous extract of TT
prepared from its fruit and leaves in rat diuretic model and strips of isolated
Guinea pig ileum were used for the contractility test. The aqueous extract of
TT, in oral dose of 5 g/kg, elicited a positive diuresis, which was slightly
more than that of furosemide. Sodium and chloride concentrations in the urine
were increased. The increased tonicity of the smooth muscles, which was
produced by TT extract, together with its diuretic activity helped in the
propulsion of stones along the urinary tract (Al-Ali et al., 2003).
Aphrodisiac
activity
Adaikan et al.
reported that the TT extract exhibited a pro-erectile effect on rabbit corpus
cavernosum smooth muscle ex vivo after oral treatment at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10
mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. A significant relaxation of 24% was observed
with nitroglycerine in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue. Similarly,
10% relaxation was observed with both acetylcholine and electrical field
stimulation, respectively, following the above treatment with TT in rabbits.
The enhanced relaxant effect observed is due to increase in the release of
nitric oxide from the endothelium and nitrergic nerve endings, which may
account for its claims as an aphrodisiac (Adaikan
et al., 2003).
Antiurolithic
activity
An
ethanolic extract of TT fruits was tested in urolithiasis induced by glass bead
implantation in albino rats by anand et al. It exhibited significant
dose-dependent protection against deposition of calculogenic material around
the glass bead, leukocytosis, and elevation in serum urea levels. Subsequent
fractionation of the ethanol extract led to decrease in activity (Anand et al.,
1994).
Antidiabetic
activity
Saponin
from TT possesses hypoglycemic properties. TT significantly reduced the level
of serum glucose, serum triglyceride, and serum cholesterol, while serum
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was found to be increased in
alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The decoction of TT showed inhibition of
gluconeogenesis in mice (Li M et al., 2002).
Analgesic
activity
Analgesic activities of TT were
studied in male mice using formalin and tail flick test. The study indicated
that the methanolic extract of TT at a dose of 100 mg/kg produced analgesic
effect. This analgesic effect of the TT extract may be mediated centrally
and/or peripherally. Effect of the extract was lower than morphine and higher
than acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in both tests. Pretreatment of animals with
opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, did not change the analgesic effect of
the extract in both tests.
therefore, the involvement of opioid receptors in the analgesic effect of TT is
excluded. However, the other mechanisms responsible for the analgesic effect of
TT remain to be investigated. The results of ulcerogenic studies indicate that
the gastric ulcerogenecity of TT is lower than indomethacin in the rat's
stomach (Heidari et al., 2007).
Anticancer
activity
Chemopreventive potential of the
aqueous extract of the root and fruit of TT at 800 mg/kg on 7,12-dimethylbenz
(a) anthracene (DMBA) and croton oil induced papillomagenesis in Swiss albino
male mice depicted significant reduction in tumor incidence, tumor burden, and
cumulative number of papillomas, along with a significant increase in the
average latent period in mice treated orally with TT suspension continuously at
pre, peri, and post-initiation stages of papillomagenesis, as compared to the
control group treated with DMBA and croton oil alone. The root extract of TT
exhibited better chemopreventive potential than the fruit extract at the same
concentration (800 mg/kg body weight) in skin papillomagenesis in mice (Kumar et al., 2006).
Activity
in cardiac disorders
TT showed
significant effect in the treatment of various cardiac diseases including
coronary disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral arteriosclerosis, and the
sequelae of cerebral thrombosis. Evaluated the protective effect of tribulosin from TT against cardiac
ischemia/reperfusion injury to study the underlying mechanism in rats.
Tribulosin protected myocardium against ischemia / reperfusion injury through
protein kinase C epsilon activation (Zhang et al., 2010).
Marketed formulations
There are varieties of
formulations available in the market like Herbal hills gokshuru powder, ayurvedic
life gokshuru capsule, sri nature ayur gokhru powder, himalaya gokshuru
Capsules, dark forest gokhar powder.
Conclusion
Numerous
studies have been conducted on different parts of TT. This plant
has developed as a drug by pharmaceutical industries. A detailed and systematic
study is required for identification, cataloguing and documentation of plants,
which may provide a meaningful way for promoting traditional knowledge of the
medicinal herbal plant.
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to the University institute of Pharmact,
Ptrsu (Raipur), for the support.
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