|
Tribulus terrestris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
?
Tribulus terrestris
Conservation
status: Secure
Leaves and flower
Scientific
classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Magnoliopsida
Order:
Zygophyllales
Family:
Zygophyllaceae
Genus:
Tribulus
Species:
T. terrestris
Binomial name
Tribulus terrestris
Linnaeus
Tribulus terrestris is a
flowering plant in the
family Zygophyllaceae,
native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the
Old World in southern
Europe, southern
Asia, throughout
Africa, and in northern
Australia. It can thrive even
in desert climates and poor
soil.
Like many weedy species,
this plant has many common names. Puncture Vine, Caltrop, Yellow
Vine, and Goathead are the most widely used; others include bindy eye,
bindii, bullhead, burnut, burra gokhroo, calthrops, cat's head, common dubbeltjie,
devil's thorn, devil's weed, doublegee, dubbeltje, gokshura, ground bur-nut, isiHoho,
land caltrop, Maltese cross, Mexican sandbur, puncture weed, rose, small caltrops,
tackweed, and Texas sandbur (also T. micrococcus).
"Goathead" fruit
It is a taprooted
herbaceous
perennial plant that
grows as a summer annual
in colder climates. The stems radiate from the crown to a diameter of about 10 cm
to over 1 m, often branching. They are usually prostrate, forming flat patches,
though they may grow more upwards in shade or among taller plants. The
leaves are pinnately compound with
leaflets less than a quarter-inch long. The
flowers are 4�10 mm wide, with
five lemon-yellow petals. A week after each flower blooms, it is followed by a
fruit that easily falls apart into
four or five single-seeded nutlets. The nutlets or "seeds" are hard and bear two
sharp spines, 10 mm long and 4�6 mm broad point-to-point. These nutlets strikingly
resemble goats' or bulls' heads; the "horns" are sharp enough to puncture bicycle
tyres and to cause considerable pain to unshod feet.
The Latin name tribulus
originally meant the caltrop
(a spiky weapon), but in Classical times already meant this plant as well.[1]
Contents
[hide]
[edit]
Cultivation and uses
The plant is widely
naturalised
in the Americas and also in
Australia south of its native range. In some states in the
United States, it is considered
an invasive species.
It has been reported that Puncture Vine seeds have been used in homicidal weapons
in southern Africa; murderers smear them with the poisonous juice of
Acokanthera venenata
and put them where victims are likely to step.[2]
[edit]
Dietary supplement
Tribulus terrestris has long been used as a tonic and aphrodisiac in Indian
ayurveda practice, where it
is known by its Sanskrit name,
"gokshura".[3]
It is now being promoted as a
testosterone booster for
the purpose of building muscle
and increasing sex drive. Independent studies [4] have suggested
that Tribulus terrestris extract does increase testosterone levels, though
leaving them in the normal range, which is not thought to increase muscle development.
Some have compared the tonic properties of Tribulus terrestris to the
effects of ginseng, but these
occur due to entirely different mechanisms. Claims have been made that it enhances
testosterone levels by increasing
luteinizing hormone
(LH) levels.[5] LH is responsible for "telling" the body
to produce testosterone. One interesting fact is that extended use of
anabolic steroids reduces
levels of LH, thus reducing and sometimes shutting down the body's production of
testosterone.[6]
It is also claimed that Tribulus terrestris increases testosterone by
increasing
gonadotropin-releasing hormone[7] (GnRH) which in turn
stimulates the production of LH and
follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH). Testosterone, besides its role in muscle-building and raising
fertility and libido, is also known to have a positive effect on
bone marrow activity (for
red blood cell production)
and the immune system.[citation
needed]
On the other hand, one recent study found that T. terrestris caused no
increase in testosterone or LH in young men,[8] and another
found that a commercial supplement containing
androstenedione and herbal
extracts, including T. terrestris, was no more effective at raising testosterone
levels than androstenedione alone.[9]
SupplementWatch does not consider
that there is any scientific evidence for effectiveness in muscle building. It suggests
that it may be beneficial for those whose testosterone is below normal, such as
dieters and overtrained
athletes.[4]
The active chemical in T. terrestris is proven to be
protodioscin
(PTN),[10] a cousin to
DHEA. In a study
with mice, Tribulus was shown to enhance mounting activity and erection better
than testosterone cypionate.[citation
needed] This however, isn't as convincing as one might think. Although
an OTC supplement
outpacing a pharmaceutical is big news, testosterone cypionate is a synthetic
ester of testosterone engineered
for its longer activity. To be effective, its level must build up in the system
of the animal using it. This process usually takes 2�3 weeks.[citation
needed]
No significant adverse effects have been reported from supplementation with
Tribulus terrestris. However, some users report an upset
stomach, which can usually be
counteracted by taking it with food.[4]
[edit]
References
- ^
Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary
- ^
BoDD (Botanical
Dermatology Database) - ZYGOPHYLLACEAE, accessed
May 17, 2006
- ^
Gokshura, accessed
May 17, 2006
- ^ a b
c
Tribulus Terrestris - Supplements from Supplement Watch, accessed
May 17, 2006
- ^
Tribulus Terrestris Facts from bodybuildingforyou.com, accessed
May 17, 2006
- ^
Ask A Scientist - Anabolic Steroids from Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
accessed May 17, 2006
- ^
Natural Testosterone Therapy
with gonadotropic adaptogen
compound containing Tribulus terrestris
- ^ V. K. Neychev and V. I. Mitev (2005). "The aphrodisiac
herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in
young men". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 101 (1�3): 319�323.
- ^ G. A. Brown et al. (2000). "Effects of anabolic
precursors on serum testosterone concentrations and adaptations to resistance
training in young men". International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise
Metabolism 10 (3): 340�359.
- ^ K. Gauthaman, A. P. Ganesan, and R. N. Prasad
(2003). "Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract
(protodioscin): an evaluation using a rat model". Journal of Alternative
and Complementary Medicine 9 (2): 257�265.
[edit]
External links
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris"
Categories:
Articles with unsourced statements |
Zygophyllales
| Herbs
Articles about vitamins
|
