Tribulus terrestris and Saponins?

Phytochemicals and Constituents.

Tribulus terrestris Extract Tribulus Saponins Protodioscin photo picture image Tribulus Terrestris owes its health and medicinal effects to three groups of active phytochemicals:

Dioscin, protodioscin, and diosgenin; these substances stimulate sexual performance and may be useful for a variety of sexual disorders. They help to regulate sexual energy levels and sexual strength by increasing the percentage of free available testosterone levels for men and they even affect pregnenolone, progesterone, and estrogen. The hormone balancing abilities of tribulus terrestris in the bodies of women make this herb possibly useful for use in connection with premenstrual syndrome and menopausal syndrome.

Sterols such as betasitosterols or stigma. These chemical compounds help to protect the prostate gland from swelling and in combination with the X steroidal saponins, may help to protect the prostate from cancer.

Proprietary steroidal saponins are currently referred to by medical researchers and physicians as X steroidal saponins. These X steroidal saponins have the ability to influence the entire immune system of the body. They have been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. Due to the effects of these substances, it is now believed that tribulus terrestris may be used both internally and externally in connection with herpes and viral infections such as influenza and the common cold.

Pharmacology:

Saponins - glucopyranosyl galactopyrans, ruscogenin, hecogenin, diosgenin;

Polysaccharides;

Sterols - sitosterol, campesterol;

Flavonoids - kaempferol, kaempferol glycosides, quercetin;

Fatty acids - palmitic, stearic, oleic, Linoleic acid;

Tannins; Potassium salts

Plant:Astragalin;Chlorogenin;Cistocardin;Cracillin;D-(+)-Pinitol;Harman;Polysaccharide H;Ruscogenin;Saponoside-C; 5'- (Hydroxysulphonyloxy) Jasmonic Acid;25-D-Spirosta-3,5-Diene;26-O-Beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-3-O-[-Beta-D-Xylopyranosyl(1-->3)--Beta-D-Galactopyranosyl(1-->2)--Beta-D-Glucopyranosyl(1--> 4)-Beta-D- Glucopyranosyl]-5 Alpha-Furost-20(22)-EN-12-One-3 Beta,26-Diol;26- O-Beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-3-O-[{BETA-D-XYLOPYRANOSYL (1-->3)--BETA-D- GALACTOPYRANOSYL(1-->2)--BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSYL(1 -->4)-BETA-D- GLUCOPYRANOSYL]-5 ALPHA-FUROSTAN-12-ONE-3 BETA,22,26-TRIOL;HECOGENIN 3-O-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSYL(1--> 4)-BETA-D- GALACTOPYRANOSIDE;

Leaf:Ascorbic acid;ASH;Calcium(15550ppm);Carbohydrates(146,000 - 686,000 ppm);Fat (5,000 ppm);Fiber (64,000 - 278,000 ppm);Iron (92 ppm);Oxalates(4,000 ppm);Phosphorus(800 - 2,500 ppm);Potassium(28,400 ppm);Protein(54,000 ppm);Tribuloside;

Fruit:Aspartic acid;Fat (35,000 - 50,000 ppm);Glutamic-Acid;Linoleic-Acid(19,950 - 28,500 ppm);Neohecogenin-3-O-Beta-D-Glucopyranoside;Oleic-Acid(9,450 - 13,500 ppm);Palmitic-Acid(2,800 - 4,000 ppm);Stearic-acid(2,800 - 4,000 ppm);

Flower:Beta-Sitosterol;Campesterol;Gitogenin;Kaempferol;Kaempferol-3-Beta-D-(6"P-Coumaroyl)-Glucoside;Kaempferol-3-Glucoside;Kaempferol-3-Rutinoside;Neogitogenin;Quercetin;Stigmasterol;

Shoot:duacosterol;Desoxydiosgenin;Diosgenin;Diosgin;Hecogenin;Protodioscin;Rutin;Terrestrosides;Tribulosin;

Seed:Fat(292,000 - 378,000 ppm);Harmine;Protein(385,000 - 462,000 ppm);

Ruscogenin:
Formular: C27H42O4 Molmasse: 430,6 g/mol
Tribulus terrestris Extract Tribulus Saponins Protodioscin photo picture image

Hecogenin:
Formular: C27H42O4 Chemical name:(3beta,5alpha,25R)-3-Hydroxyspirostan-12-one Molecular Weight: 430.62

Diosgenin:
Scientific Name:(3beta,25R)-Spirost-5-en-3-ol Formular: C27H42O3 MW: 414.63
Tribulus terrestris Extract Tribulus Saponins Protodioscin photo picture image

Campesterol:

Scientific Name:24alpha-methyl-5-cholesten-3beta-ol CAS Registry No.:474-62-4 Molecular Name:C28 H48 O Mass:400.3704

Other Names:Ergost-5-en-3beta-ol, (24R)-; (24R)-5-ergosten-3beta-ol; delta5-24-isoergosten-3beta-ol; 24(R)-methylcholesterol; 24alpha-methylcholesterol; campesterin

Dietary Sources:Plant sterol; plant oils (avocado, cashew, castor, chestnut, coffee, corn, cottonseed, linseed, mustard seed, palm, peanut, pine nut, poppy seed, pumpkin seed, rapeseed, rice bran, safflower, sesame, soybean, sunflower, wheat germ); margarines; vegetables (barley, brussel sprouts, radish greens, soybean); fruits (apple, apricot, banana, cherry, fig, grapefruit, navel orange, pomegranate, strawberry); seeds and nuts (cashew, pine nut, sesame seed, sunflower seed); spices (basil, dill, ginger, horseradish, white mustard, oregano, paprika, red pepper, poppy seed, sage, turmeric); cereals (buckwheat, corn, rice bran, sorghum); legumes (broad beans, peanuts, soybeans)

Beta-Sitosterol:
Scientific Name:5-Cholesten-24-ethyl-3-ol CAS No.:83-46-5 Molecular Name:C29H50O
Other Names:(24R)-Ethylcholest-5-en-3beta-ol; beta-sitosterin; 24alpha-ethylcholesterol; cinchol

Dietary Sources:Plant sterol; plant oils (avocado, cashew, chestnut, corn, cottonseed, mustard seed, rice bran, safflower, sesame seed, soybean, sunflower, wheat germ); margarines, vegetables (barley, white gourd, garden lettuce, radish greens, soybean); fruits (apricot, fig, navel orange, pomegranate; seeds and nuts (almond, cashew, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, sesame seed, sunflower seed, walnut; spices (basil, clove, ginger, horseradish, laurel, mace, marjoram, mustard, onion, oregano, paprika, black pepper, poppy seed, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric); cereals (buckwheat, corn, rice bran); legumes (broad beans, kidney beans, peanuts, peas, soybeans); mayonnaise, peanut butter, black tea, green tea.

Chemical Composition:

There is currently a very limited amount of scientific data concerning the chemical composition of Tribulus. Preparations may vary significantly in chemical composition depending on which part of the plant is used (leaves, flower, stem or root), where and when it is grown, the extent to which it is processed and how it is stored among other factors.

Manufacturers claim that the main active constituent of Tribulus is a furostanol saponin called protodioscin. Some Tribulus extracts are standardized to contain 30-45 % triterpenoid and steroidal glycosides (saponins).
Tribulus terrestris Extract Tribulus Saponins Protodioscin photo picture image

Banned Substances:

Tribulus does not appear to contain any substances that are banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC tests for anabolic steroid use by measuring the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in the blood. A testosterone to epitestosterone ratio above 6: 1 constitutes doping. It is unclear whether or not Tribulus elevates the testosterone to epitestosterone ratio.

There have been many reports of herbal preparations that have been contaminated with substances that are banned by sports governing bodies. Contamination of herbal products has resulted in (or been blamed for) the disqualification of athletes from athletic events.

Until the purity and quality of herbal products can be consistently demonstrated and regulated, the standpoint of some sports governing bodies on their use is that the risk of a positive doping test lies with the athlete.

Actions and Indications:

Lipid lowering in arteriosclerosis. Essential hypertension. Adrenal cortex hyperfunctions from stress, with elevated lipids, uric acid, blood sugars with stomach hypersecretions. Dysuria with partial impotence. Gout, for the hyperuricemia. Impotence/frigidity, with dysuria. Thick, frontal headaches after meals. Blood serum levels: cholesterol elevations. Blood serum levels: hyperlipidemia, in general. Blood serum levels: LDL, VLDL elevated.

Note: There is a substantial amount of research going on in Indonesia regarding the effectiveness of this plant in male libido, impotence, infertility, and sperm motility. Oddly, most Asian studies seem to center on cardiovascular and hepatoprotective qualities of this plant.