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Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is an annual plant in the caltrop family (Zygophyllaceae) widely


distributed around the world, that is adapted to grow in dry climate locations in which few
other plants can survive.[2] Its extracts are widely used by body builders.
It is an invasive species in North America.[2] Like many weedy species, this plant has many
common names, includinggoat's-head,[1] bindii,[3] bullhead, burra gokharu, caltrop,
[1]
small caltrops,[4] cat's-head,[1][3] devil's eyelashes,[5]devil's-thorn,[1][5] devil's-weed,
[1]
puncture vine,[2] puncturevine,[6][1] and tackweed.[7]
Description[edit]
Tribulus terrestris is a taprooted herbaceous perennial plant[citation needed] that grows as a
summer annual in colder climates.[citation needed]
Habitat and range[edit]
It is native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World in southern Europe,
southern Asia, throughout Africa, and Australia.[8] It can thrive even indesert climates and
poor soil.
A network of fine rootlets arise from the taproot to take advantage of soil moisture, by which
the plant can survive in very arid conditions.[2]
Growth pattern[edit]
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.
Leaves and stem[edit]
Dried Tribulus terrestris nutlets
Stems branch from the crown and are densely hairy.[2] Leaves are opposite and pinnately
compound.[2] Densely hairyleaflets are opposite and up to 18 inch (0.0032 m) long.[2]
Inflorescence[edit]
The flowers are 410 mm wide, with 5 lemon-yellow petals, 5 sepals, and 10 stamens.[2] In
Southern California, it blooms from April through October, where it is highly invasive in waste
places and disturbed sites.[2]
Fruit[edit]
Thumbtack-like Tribulus terrestrisnutlets are a hazard to bicycle tires.
A week after[citation needed] each flower blooms, it is followed by a fruit that easily falls apart into
5 nutlets or burs.[2]
The nutlets are hard and bear 2-4 sharp spines,[2] 10 mm long and 46 mm broad point-topoint. These nutlets strikingly resemble goats' or bulls' heads; the "horns" are sharp enough
to puncture bicycle tires and lawn mower tires. They can also cause painful injury to bare
feet; however, they are also large enough to pull out as soon as they pierce into the sole,

and the resultant hole is only slightly larger than stepping on a push pin if it goes all the way
in.[9]
Within each nutlet, seeds are stacked on top of each other, separated by a hard membrane.
[2]
As an adaptation to dry climates, the largest seed germinates first, while the others may
wait until more moisture is available before germinating.[2]
The spines of the nutlets point upward, where they stick into feet and fur of animals, and are
thereby dispersed.[2] This causes damage to domesticated livestock and degrades wool.[2]
Tribulus terrestris nutlets in foot,Marfa, Texas
Etymology[edit]
The Greek word, meaning 'water-chestnut',[10] translated into Latin as tribulos.
The Latin name tribulus originally meant the caltrop (a spiky weapon), but in Classical times
already the word meant this plant as well.[11]
Cultivation and uses[edit]
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 a noxious weed and an invasive
species.[1] It is a declared plant in South Australia.[12]
It has been reported that the seeds or nutlets have been used in homicidal weapons
smeared with the juice of Acokanthera venenata in southern Africa.[9]
Dietary supplement[edit]
Some body builders use T. terrestris as post cycle therapy or "PCT". After they have
completed an anabolic-steroid cycle, they use it under the assumption that it will restore the
body's natural testosterone levels.
The extract is claimed to increase the body's natural testosterone levels and thereby
improve male sexual performance and help build muscle. Its purported muscle-building
potential was popularized by American IFBB bodybuilding champion Jeffrey Petermann in
the early 1970s. However, T. terrestris has failed to increase testosterone levels in controlled
studies.[13][14][15]It has also failed to demonstrate strength-enhancing properties,[16] a finding
indicating that the purported anabolic steroideffects of Tribulus terrestris are untrue. Some
users report an upset stomach, which can usually be counteracted by taking it with food.[17]
[unreliable medical source?]

Indian medicine[edit]
Ayurveda[edit]
In Ayurvedic pharmacology, tribulus terrestris is used as a powder form of the aerial parts,
particularly the fruits and it is known in Sanskrit as gokshura, meaning the "cow's hoof",
possibly because the small thorns tend to get stuck on grazing animals. Nevertheless, an
unrelated plant, pedalium is also known as gokshura, more specifically as bada
gokshura ("big cow's hoof"), whereas the gokshura proper is referred to as chhota
gokshura ("small cow's hoof"). The two herbs are often found mixed in powder blends used.
[18]

Gokshura is believed to contribute to overall physical, as well as sexual, strength by building


all the tissues, especially shukra dhatu (reproductive tissue) but it is not considered as a

particular vajikarana (sexual functions) herb.[19] It is believed to be useful in kidney, bladder,


urinary tract and uro-genital related conditions, where it is said to act as a diuretic.[20]
Unani[edit]
Tribulus terrestris is used in Unani under the Urdu name Khar-e-Khasak Khurd and the
pedalium is referred to as Khar-e-Khasak Kalan. Their administration and indications are
essentially similar with Ayurveda.
Traditional Chinese Medicine[edit]
In traditional Chinese medicine Tribulus terrestris is known under the name bai ji li ().
According to Bensky and Clavey, 2004 (Materia medica 3rd edition, pp. 975976) Tribulus
terrestris is ci ji li (). "Confusion with Astragali complanati Semen (sha yuan zi)
originally known as white ji li ( bai ji li), led some writers to attribute tonifying
properties to this herb..."
Research[edit]
In Animals[edit]
A single study has shown that T. terrestris can alter sexual behavior in castrated rats.[21] It
appears to do so by stimulating androgen receptors in the brain. A research review
conducted in 2000 stated that the lack of data outside of this study prevents generalizing the
results to humans, particularly healthy individuals.[22]
Animal studies in rats, rabbits and primates have demonstrated ambiguous results. One
study found that administration of Tribulus terrestris extract can produce statistically
significant increases in levels
of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone,[23] and produces effects
suggestive of aphrodisiac activity.[21]
In Humans[edit]
A recent study found that T. terrestris caused no increase in testosterone or LH in young
men,[24] and another found that a commercial supplement containingandrostenedione and
herbal extracts, including T. terrestris, was no more effective at raising testosterone levels
than androstenedione alone.[25]
One chemical compound found in T. terrestris is protodioscin (PTN).[26] Also, T. terrestris was
shown to have strong inhibitory activity on COX-2.[27]
Eradication[edit]
Typical habitat of Tribulus terrestris
Where this is a non-indigenous species, eradication methods are often sought. There are
both biological and herbicidal solutions to the problem, but none of them provide a solution
that is both quick and long-lasting, because T. terrestris seeds remain viable for up to 7
years on average.
Physical[edit]
In smaller areas, T. terrestris is best controlled with manual removal, using a hoe to cut the
plant off at its taproot. While this is effective, removing the entire plant by gripping the
taproot, stem or trunk and pulling upward to remove the taproot is far more effective. This
requires monitoring the area and removing the weed throughout the preseeding time (late

spring and early summer in many temperate areas). This will greatly reduce the prevalence
of the weed the following year. Mowing is not an effective method of eradication, because
the plant grows flat against the ground.
Another avenue of physical eradication is to crowd out the opportunistic weed by providing
good competition from favorable plants. Aerating compacted sites and planting competitive
desirable plants, including broad-leaved grasses such as St. Augustine, can reduce the
effect of T. terrestris by reducing resources available to the weed.
In June 2014, the town of Irrigon, Oregon announced it would pay a bounty of one dollar for
each large trash bag of puncturevine.[28]
Chemical[edit]
Chemical control is generally recommended for home control of T. terrestris. There are few
pre-emergent herbicides that are effective. Products containing oryzalin,benefin,
or trifluralin will provide partial control of germinating seeds. These must be applied prior to
germination (late winter to midspring).
After plants have emerged from the soil (postemergent), products containing 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid ("2,4-D"), glyphosate, and dicamba are effective on T. terrestris.
Like most postemergents, they are more effectively maintained when caught small and
young. Dicamba and 2,4-D will cause harm to most broad-leaved plants, so the user should
take care to avoid over-application. They can be applied to lawns without injuring the desired
grass. Glyphosate will kill or injure most plants, so it should only be used as a spot treatment
or on solid stands of the weed.
A product from DuPont called Pastora is highly effective but expensive and not for lawn use.
Biological[edit]
Two weevils, Microlarinus lareynii and M. lypriformis, native to India, France, and Italy, were
introduced into the United States as biocontrol agents in 1961. Both species of weevils are
available for purchase from biological suppliers, but purchase and release is not often
recommended because weevils collected from other areas may not survive at the
purchaser's location.
Microlarinus lareynii is a seed weevil that deposits its eggs in the young burr or flower bud.
The larvae feed on and destroy the seeds before they pupate, emerge, disperse, and start
the cycle over again. Its life cycle time is 19 to 24 days. Microlarinus lypriformis is a stem
weevil that has a similar life cycle, excepting the location of the eggs, which includes the
undersides of stems, branches, and the root crown. The larvae tunnel in the pith where they
feed and pupate. Adults of both species overwinter in plant debris. Although the stem weevil
is slightly more effective than the seed weevil when each is used alone, the weevils are most
effective if used together and the T. terrestris plant is moisture-stressed.
Phytochemistry[edit]
Two alkaloids that seem to cause limb paresis (staggers) in sheep that eat Tribulus
terrestulis are the beta-carboline alkaloids harman (harmane) and norharman(norharmane).
[29]
The alkaloid content of dried foliage is about 44 mg/kg.[29]

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