Generic placeholder image

The Natural Products Journal

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2210-3155
ISSN (Online): 2210-3163

Review Article

Tribulus terrestris in Management of Sexual Functions

Author(s): Mohaddese Mahboubi*

Volume 9, Issue 3, 2019

Page: [172 - 183] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/2210315508666181022125243

Price: $65

Abstract

Backgrounds: Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae family) is believed to have aphrodisiac activity in different cultures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of T. terrestris in the management of sexual functions in female and male patients.

Methods: We searched in PubMed Central, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, SID, accessible books, reports, and thesis.

Results: According to the results of animal and human studies, standard T. terrestris improved erectile parameters. After administration of T. terrestris, an increase in testosterone level was observed in most animal studies, while this increase was not confirmed in male human studies. T. terrestris improved the sperm parameters in animal and human studies. T. terrestris enhanced the folliculogenesis and improved polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) in animal studies. The human clinical studies confirmed its efficacy on female sexual disorders.

Conclusion: Therefore, standard T. terrestris extract as a valuable herbal compound can be considered an improvement of sexual functions in both sexes.

Keywords: Tribulus terrestris, protodioscin, saponins, sexual function, infertility, female disorder.

Graphical Abstract
[1]
Bone, K.; Mills, S. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy-E-Book: Modern Herbal Medicine; 2nd ed., Elsevier Health Sciences: Churchill Livingstone, London,. , 2013.
[2]
Al-Ali, M.; Wahbi, S.; Twaij, H.; Al-Badr, A. Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. J. Ethnopharmacol., 2003, 85(2-3), 257-260.
[3]
Anand, R.; Patnaik, G.K.; Kulshreshtha, D.K.; Dhawan, B.N. Activity of certain fractions of Tribulus terrestris fruits against experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats. Indian J. Exp. Biol., 1994, 32(8), 548-552.
[4]
Aggarwal, A.; Tandon, S.; Singla, S.K.; Tandon, C. A novel antilithiatic protein from Tribulus terrestris having cytoprotective potency. Protein Pept. Lett., 2012, 19(8), 812-819.
[5]
Sangeeta, D.; Sidhu, H.; Thind, S.K.; Nath, R. Effect of Tribulus terrestris on oxalate metabolism in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol., 1994, 44(2), 61-66.
[6]
Kavitha, P.; Ramesh, R.; Bupesh, 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, 47(10), 698-706.
[7]
Oh, J.S.; Baik, S.H.; Ahn, E.-K.; Jeong, W.; Hong, S.S. Antiinflammatory activity of Tribulus terrestris in RAW264.7 Cells (54.2). J. Immunol., 2012, 188(1 Suppl), 54.2-54.2.
[8]
Heidari, M.R.; Mehrabani, M.; Pardakhty, A.; Khazaeli, P.; Zahedi, M.J.; Yakhchali, M.; Vahedian, M. The analgesic effect of Tribulus terrestris extract and comparison of gastric ulcerogenicity of the extract with indomethacine in animal experiments. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 2007, 1095, 418-427.
[9]
Qureshi, A.; Naughton, D.P.; Petroczi, A. A systematic review on the herbal extract Tribulus terrestris and the roots of its putative aphrodisiac and performance enhancing effect. J. Diet. Suppl., 2014, 11(1), 64-79.
[10]
Neychev, V.; Mitev, V. Pro-sexual and androgen enhancing effects of Tribulus terrestris L.: Fact or fiction. J. Ethnopharmacol., 2016, 179, 345-355.
[11]
Pizzorno, J.E.; Murray, M.T.; Joiner-Bey, H. The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine E-Book, 3rd ed; Elsevier, 2016.
[12]
Khare, C.P. Indian Herbal Remedies. Rational Western therapy, ayurvedic, and other traditional usage. Botany, 2004.
[13]
Ross, I.A. Medicinal plants of the world: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modem Medicinal Uses; Springer Vol. 2. , 2001.
[14]
Shah, B.N. Textbook of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry; Success Publisher Pvt. Ltd., 2009.
[15]
Kimura, T.; But, P.P.; Guo, J-X.; Sung, C.K. International Collation of Traditional and Folk Medicine: Northeast Asia–Part 1., 1997.
[16]
Adaikan, P.G.; Gauthaman, K.; Prasad, R.N.; Ng, S.C. Proerectile pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on the rabbit corpus cavernosum. Ann. Acad. Med. Singapore, 2000, 29(1), 22-26.
[17]
Naylor, A.M. Endogenous neurotransmitters mediating penile erection. Br. J. Urol., 1998, 81(3), 424-431.
[18]
Gauthaman, K.; Adaikan, P.G.; Prasad, R.N. Aphrodisiac properties of Tribulus terrestris extract (Protodioscin) in normal and castrated rats. Life Sci., 2002, 71(12), 1385-1396.
[19]
Gauthaman, K.; Ganesan, A.P.; Prasad, R.N. Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin): An evaluation using a rat model. J. Altern. Complement. Med., 2003, 9(2), 257-265.
[20]
Tyagi, R.M.; Aswar, U.M.; Mohan, V.; Bodhankar, S.L.; Zambare, G.N.; Thakurdesai, P.A. Study of furostenol glycoside fraction of Tribulus terresteris on male sexual function in rats. Pharm. Biol., 2008, 46(3), 191-198.
[21]
Singh, S.; Nair, V.; Gupta, Y.K. Evaluation of the aphrodisiac activity of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in sexually sluggish male albino rats. J. Pharmacol. Pharmacother., 2012, 3(1), 43-47.
[22]
Sahin, K.; Orhan, C.; Akdemir, F.; Tuzcu, M.; Gencoglu, H.; Sahin, N.; Turk, G.; Yilmaz, I.; Ozercan, I.H.; Juturu, V. Comparative evaluation of the sexual functions and NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways of some aphrodisiac herbal extracts in male rats. BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 2016, 16(1), 318.
[23]
Do, J.; Choi, S.; Choi, J.; Hyun, J.S. Effects and mechanism of action of a Tribulus terrestris extract on penile erection. Korean J. Urol., 2013, 54(3), 183-188.
[24]
Howell, S.; Shalet, S. Testosterone deficiency and replacement. Horm. Res., 2001, 56(Suppl. 1), 86-92.
[25]
Ghosian Moghaddam, M.H.; Khalili, M.; Maleki, M.; Ahmad Abadi, M.E. The effect of oral feeding of Tribulus terrestris L. on sex hormone and gonadotropin levels in addicted male rats. Int. J. Fertil. Steril., 2013, 7(1), 57-62.
[26]
Gauthaman, K.; Ganesan, A.P. The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction--an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat. Phytomedicine, 2008, 15(1-2), 44-54.
[27]
Mohammed, M.; Shaddad, S.; Mudathir, A.; Elsharif, B.; Abu Algasem, A. Effects of Tribulus terrestris ethanolic extract in male rats and cocks fertility. J. Pharm. Biomed. Sci., 2013, 30(30), S13-S18.
[28]
Tag, H.M.; Abdelazek, H.M.; Mahoud, Y.S. EL-Shenawy, N. S., Efficacy of Tribulus terrestris extract and metformin on fertility indices and oxidative stress of testicular tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 2015, 9(48), 1088-1098.
[29]
Ghanbari, A.; Moradi, M.; Raoofi, A.; Falahi, M.; Seydi, S. Tribulus terrestris Hydroalcoholic extract administration effects on reproductive parameters and serum level of glucose in diabetic male rats. Int. J. Morphol., 2016, 34(2), 796-803.
[30]
Shalaby, M.A.; Hammouda, A.A.E-K. Assessment of protective and anti-oxidant properties of Tribulus terrestris fruits against testicular toxicity in rats. J. Intercult. Ethnopharmacol., 2014, 3(3), 113-118.
[31]
Hemalatha, S.; Hari, R. Fertility enhancing effect of saponin rich butanol extracts of Tribulus terrestris fruits in male albino rats. IJPCR, 2015, 7, 36-43.
[32]
Cek, S.; Turan, F.; Atik, E. The effects of Gokshura, Tribulus terrestris on sex reversal of guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Pak. J. Biol. Sci., 2007, 10(5), 718-725.
[33]
Bashir, A.; Tahir, M.; Samee, W.; Munir, B. Effects of Tribulus terrestris on testicular development of immature albino rats. Biomedica, 2009, 25(1), 63-68.
[34]
Karimi Jashni, H.; Malekzadeh Shiravani, S.; Hoshmand, F. The effect of the Tribulus terrestris extract on spermatogenesis in the rat. Pars of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, 2011, 9(4), 8-13.
[35]
Elahi, R.; Asl, S.; Shahian, F. Study on the effects of various doses of Tribulus terrestris extract on epididymal sperm morphology and count in rat. Glob Veterin, 2013, 10, 13-17.
[36]
Khaleghi, S.; Bakhtiari, M.; Asadmobini, A.; Esmaeili, F. Tribulus terrestris extract improves human sperm parameters in vitro. J. Evid. Based Complementary Altern. Med., 2016.
[37]
Rajendar, B.; Bharavi, K.; Rao, G.S.; Kishore, P.V.; Kumar, P.R.; Kumar, C.S.; Patel, T.P. Protective effect of an aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris Linn on cadmium-induced testicular damage. Indian J. Pharmacol., 2011, 43(5), 568-573.
[38]
Esfandiari, A.; Dehghan, A.; Sharifi, S.; Najafi, B.; Vesali, E. Effect of tribulus terrestris extract on ovarian activity in immature Wistar rat: A histological evaluation. J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 2011, 10(7), 883-886.
[39]
Adaay, M.; Mosa, A. Evaluation of the effect of aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris on some reproductive parameters in female mice. J. Mater. Environ. Sci, 2012, 3(6), 1153-1162.
[40]
Dehghan, A.; Esfandiari, A.; Bigdeli, S.M. Alternative treatment of ovarian cysts with Tribulus terrestris extract: a rat model. Reprod. Domest. Anim., 2012, 47(1), e12-e15.
[41]
Abadjieva, D.; Kistanova, E. Tribulus terrestris alters the expression of growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15 in rabbit ovaries of mothers and f1 female offspring. PLoS One, 2016, 11(2), e0150400.
[42]
Adimoelja, A.; Adaikan, P. Protodioscin from herbal plant Tribulus terrestris L. improves the male sexual functions, probably via DHEA. Int. J. Impot. Res., 1997, 9, S64.
[43]
Adimoelja, A.; Setiawan, L.; Djojotananjo, T. In Tribulus terrestris (protodioscin) in the treatment of male infertility with idiopathic oligoasthenoterato-zoospermia First International Conference of Medical Plants for Reproductive Medicine in Taipei, China1995, pp. 4368-4380.
[44]
Setiawan, L. Tribulus terrestris L. extract improves spermatozoa motility and increases the efficiency of acrosome reaction in subjects diagnosed with oligoastheno-teratozoospermia. Advances in Male Reproductive Physiology, 1996, 2, 105-114.
[45]
Sellandi, T.M.; Thakar, A.B.; Baghel, M.S. Clinical study of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in Oligozoospermia: A double blind study. Ayu, 2012, 33(3), 356-364.
[46]
Ismail, S.B.; Bakar, M.B.; Nik Hussain, N.H.; Norhayati, M.N.; Sulaiman, S.A.; Jaafar, H.; Draman, S.; Ramli, R.; Wan Yusoff, W.Z. Comparison on the effects and safety of tualang honey and tribestan in sperm parameters, erectile function, and hormonal profiles among oligospermic males. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med., 2014, 2014, 126138.
[47]
Santos, C.A., Jr; Reis, L.O.; Destro-Saade, R.; Luiza-Reis, A.; Fregonesi, A. Tribulus terrestris versus placebo in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A prospective, randomized, double blind study. Actas Urol. Esp., 2014, 38(4), 244-248.
[48]
Roaiah, M.F.; Elkhayat, Y.I.; Saleh, S.F.; Abd El Salam, M.A. Prospective analysis on the effect of botanical medicine (Tribulus terrestris) on serum testosterone level and semen parameters in males with unexplained infertility. J. Diet. Suppl., 2016, 1-7.
[49]
Kamenov, Z.; Fileva, S.; Kalinov, K.; Jannini, E.A. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Tribulus terrestris in male sexual dysfunction-A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Maturitas, 2017, 99, 20-26.
[50]
Salgado, R.M.; Marques-Silva, M.H.; Gonçalves, E.; Mathias, A.C.; Aguiar, J.G.; Wolff, P. Effect of oral administration of Tribulus terrestris extract on semen quality and body fat index of infertile men. Andrologia, 2017, 49(5)
[51]
Akhtari, E.; Raisi, F.; Keshavarz, M.; Hosseini, H.; Sohrabvand, F.; Bioos, S.; Kamalinejad, M.; Ghobadi, A. Tribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: Randomized double-blind placebo - controlled study. Daru, 2014, 22, 40.
[52]
Gama, C.R.; Lasmar, R.; Gama, G.F.; Abreu, C.S.; Nunes, C.P.; Geller, M.; Oliveira, L.; Santos, A. Clinical assessment of Tribulus terrestris extract in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. Clin. Med. Insights Womens Health, 2014, 7, 45-50.
[53]
Postigo, S.; Lima, S.M.; Yamada, S.S.; dos Reis, B.F.; da Silva, G.M.; Aoki, T. Assessment of the effects of Tribulus Terrestris on sexual function of menopausal women. Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia: revista da Fed-eracao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia, 2016, 38(3), 140-6.
[54]
Gardner, Z.; McGuffin, M. American Herbal Products Association’s botanical safety handbook; CRC Press, 2013.
[55]
Montorsi, F.; Adaikan, G.; Becher, E.; Giuliano, F.; Khoury, S.; Lue, T.F.; Sharlip, I.; Althof, S.E.; Andersson, K.E.; Brock, G.; Broderick, G.; Burnett, A.; Buvat, J.; Dean, J.; Donatucci, C.; Eardley, I.; Fugl-Meyer, K.S.; Goldstein, I.; Hackett, G.; Hatzichristou, D.; Hellstrom, W.; Incrocci, L.; Jackson, G.; Kadioglu, A.; Levine, L.; Lewis, R.W.; Maggi, M.; McCabe, M.; McMahon, C.G.; Montague, D.; Montorsi, P.; Mulhall, J.; Pfaus, J.; Porst, H.; Ralph, D.; Rosen, R.; Rowland, D.; Sadeghi-Nejad, H.; Shabsigh, R.; Stief, C.; Vardi, Y.; Wallen, K.; Wasserman, M. Summary of the recommendations on sexual dysfunctions in men. J. Sex. Med., 2010, 7(11), 3572-3588.

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy