A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS

Abstract

Tribulus terrestris (Puncture vine) is a medicinal herb found worldwide. Its therapeutic efficacy as Eastern medicine has been known since ancient times. For thousands of years, TT's fruits and roots have been utilized as traditional medicine in India, Pakistan, and China. Several bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoids and saponins, have been discovered from Tribulus terrestris and are responsible for a variety of pharmacological actions, either alone or in combination. This plant is known to have antioxidants, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antihelmintic, larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, antispasmodic, diuretic, analgesic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and anticancer activities. Phytochemical investigations have revealed significant differences in the number of active compounds present in this plant, particularly the concentration of spirostanol and furostanol saponoside, which are thought to be the primary active elements involved in the therapeutic activity of Tribulus terrestris. Several in vitro investigations have shown that Tribulus terrestris extracts in both whole and fractionated forms exhibit antibacterial potential against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Tribulus terrestris aqueous extract exhibited greater antibacterial properties than methanol extract and inhibited selective bacterial growth, proposing the existence of bioactive compounds throughout a vast range in Tribulus terrestris. The current study clearly showed that Tribulus terrestris is an abundant source of phytochemicals and has excellent pharmacological properties. Therefore, it is concluded that this plant is very therapeutic and may be utilized to make powerful pharmaceuticals that are beneficial to people.