Earth thorn

Protodioscin, the main active ingredient in Tribulus Terrestris preparations

Ikshugandha, as it is known in India, is a plant that has been used since time immemorial in eastern India for the treatment of sexual problems in both men and women. William Boericke, American physician and author of one of the greatest homeopathic pharmacopoeias, also wrote about it in 1927: "useful in conditions of weakness of the sexual organs such as impotence, ejaculatio praecox (premature ejaculation) and oligospermia (semen depletion), prostatitis,.., and sexual neurasthenia (sexual weakness) ... at an advanced age" Not only at an advanced age, it should be added. This impressive list, often dismissed by chronic skeptics as "indication poetry", is supported by more recent studies.

Testosterone increases for man power

Tribulus has been extensively and successfully tested and shown to be effective in improving sperm quality and motility. Libido (sex drive) and sexual performance increased in test animals and humans.

Body builders also use it.

Taking Tribulus causes increases of 72% in LH and 41% in the level of free, biologically active testosterone (male sex hormone). LH, the luteinizing hormone, is a hormone of the pituitary gland that stimulates the cells of the testicles that produce testosterone, the Leydig's cells.

However, the effect of tribulus is complex. Since it clearly improves sperm production (as Boericke already observed in 1927!), it must also improve the effect of FSH. FSH is follicle-stimulating hormone, another hormone of the pituitary gland, which activates the cells of the testicles that produce sperm, the so-called Sertoli cells. The findings show that Tribulus does not increase the release of FSH from the pituitary gland. It is therefore assumed that it acts as a resensitizer, i.e. as a substance that has a sensitizing effect on the FSH receptors in the testicles, so that these cells react better to FSH stimulation by the pituitary gland - as in younger men.

General anti-ageing effects

Recently, in 2000, a clinical study confirmed the effect of Tribulus on sexual desire and erectile function. Researchers at the Surabaya Medical College in Indonesia studied "protodioscin", an ingredient isolated from Tribulus. They found that the protodioscin contained in Tribulus is converted in the body into DHEA (DeHydroEpiAndrosterone - a hormone precursor of testosterone). This is certainly only part of the active principles of this apparently very versatile plant.

Other benefits of Tribulus are

• Has a proven positive psychological effect by lifting the mood and increasing self-confidence
• Reduces cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Increases the libido of men in an amazing way
• Improves heart muscle contraction
• Supports the immune system.

Whatever the case, the effects of Tribulus appear to be varied and beneficial.

Side effects

Increased urination at best, as it also has a diuretic effect. Hypersensitivity reactions can never be ruled out, even with herbal remedies. However, the simultaneous increase in oestrogen when Tribulus is administered alongside the increase in testosterone can lead to the known side effects, e.g. increased water retention or gynaecomastia. High-quality tribulus preparations with a sufficiently high proportion of protodioscin are rare on the market. Most of the products on offer conceal the protodioscin content. It is generally agreed that the best quality comes from Bulgaria. Bulgarian Tribulus is a top product with 50% protodioscin content and 45% saponin content, providing 250mg per capsule. The daily amount should be 750-2000mg divided into three doses in order to produce a good effect. According to reports from athletes, Tribulus appears to be most effective when the body's LH production is reduced, e.g. during overtraining or after taking steroids or prohormones. In such cases, the body's own hormone system appears to regenerate significantly faster when Tribulus is taken.

References

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2. Life Sci. 2003 Oct 24;73(23):2963-71. Study of antihypertensive mechanism of Tribulus terrestris in 2K1C hypertensive rats: role of tissue ACE activity. Sharifi AM, Darabi R, Akbarloo N.
3. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Apr;85(2-3):257-60. Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. Al-Ali M, Wahbi S, Twaij H, Al-Badr A.
4. J Pharm Sci. 2001 Nov;90(11):1752-8. Determination of steroidal saponins in Tribulus terrestris by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection. Ganzera M, Bedir E, Khan IA.
5. J Nat Prod. 2000 Dec;63(12):1699-701. New steroidal glycosides from the fruits of Tribulus terrestris. Bedir E, Khan IA.
6. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2000 Jan;29(1):22-6. Proerectile pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on the rabbit corpus cavernosum. Adaikan PG, Gauthaman K, Prasad RN, Ng SC.
7. Life Sci. 2002 Aug 9;71(12):1385-96. Aphrodisiac properties of Tribulus Terrestris extract (Protodioscin) in normal and castrated rats. Gauthaman K, Adaikan PG, Prasad RN.
8. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Aug;72(2 Suppl):624S-36S. Selected herbals and human exercise performance. Bucci LR.
9. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Oct;20(5):520-8. endocrine and lipid responses to chronic androstenediol-herbal supplementation in 30 to 58 year old men. Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Martini ER, Kohut ML, Franke WD, Jackson DA, King DS.
10. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2000 Jun;10(2):208-15. The effects of Tribulus terrestris on body composition and exercise performance in resistance-trained males. Antonio J, Uelmen J, Rodriguez R, Earnest C.
11. Boll Chim Farm. 1998 Dec;137(11):473-5. Effect of Tribulus terrestris L. saponin mixture on some smooth muscle preparations: a preliminary study. Arcasoy HB, Erenmemisoglu A, Tekol Y, Kurucu S, Kartal M.
12. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Nov;83(1-2):153-9. Evaluation of natural products on inhibition of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cultured mouse macrophage cells. Hong CH, Hur SK, Oh OJ, Kim SS, Nam KA, Lee SK.
13. Zhong Yao Cai. 2003 May;26(5):341-4. [Effect of saponin from Tribulus terrestris on hyperlipidemia] [Article in Chinese] Chu S, Qu W, Pang X, Sun B, Huang X.
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15. Zhong Yao Cai. 2001 Aug;24(8):586-8. [Effect of the decoction of tribulus terrestris on mice gluconeogenesis] [Article in Chinese] Li M, Qu W, Chu S, Wang H, Tian C, Tu M.
16. Planta Med. 1998 Oct;64(7):628-31. tribulusamide A and B, new hepatoprotective lignanamides from the fruits of Tribulus terrestris: indications of cytoprotective activity in murine hepatocyte culture. Li JX, Shi Q, Xiong QB, Prasain JK, Tezuka Y, Hareyama T, Wang ZT, Tanaka K, Namba T, Kadota S.
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