Earth thorn

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Earth thorn
Trumpet thorn (Tribulus terrestris)

Trumpet thorn ( Tribulus terrestris )

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden I
Order : Zygophyllales (Zygophyllales)
Family : Lignum-vitae (Zygophyllaceae)
Genre : Root thorns ( Tribulus )
Type : Earth thorn
Scientific name
Tribulus terrestris
L.

The trumpet thorn ( Tribulus terrestris ), also called trumpet thorn , is a plant species in the genus of the trumpet thorn ( Tribulus ) from the family of the zygophyllaceae . It is widespread in the tropical and subtropical countries of Asia, Africa, southern Europe and northern Australia and was introduced into the Neotropic .

Plant description

Thumbtack-like thorns of Tribulus terrestris

It is an annual to biennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of growth of 10 to 50 cm. The plant has tomentose hair and looks gray. The pinnate, 2.5 to 5 cm long leaves consist of five to eight pairs of elliptical leaflets that are 5 to 10 mm long and 3 to 8 mm wide. Stipules are present.

The narrow, yellow flowers are 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter and stand on short stalks. Each flower contains ten stamens .

The hard, often prickly capsule fruits (there is a great variability in the prickling, from very prickly to smooth) have a diameter of 1 cm and are 4 to 8 mm long. The species can bloom all year round.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 12, 24 or 36.

Varieties

The species is very variable in size and shape of leaves, fruits and flowers. There are several varieties:

  • Tribulus terrestris var. Bicornutus (Fish. & CAMey.) Hadidi
  • Tribulus terrestris var. Inermis
  • Tribulus terrestris var. Robustus
  • Tribulus terrestris var. Terrestris

pharmacology

The fruits contain tannin , a glycoside , essential oil , linoleic acid , peroxidase and the like. a.

Burrowthorn is used as a tonic and is said to promote potency. This effect has been demonstrated in laboratory studies in rats. The animals also gained weight. Further research showed an increase in androgen receptors in the rat brain.

In bodybuilding and weight training, the substance is very popular as a "steroid substitute" and as a "natural anabolic steroid", although scientific confirmation of positive effects on muscle growth has so far been lacking.

The plant extract has an antihypertensive effect in rats. As with other plants, the saponins contained have a strong fungicidal effect.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas. 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , p. 633.
  2. ↑ M. Shahid, M. Riaz, MM Talpur, T. Pirzada: Phytopharmacology of Tribulus terrestris. In: J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 30 (3), Jul-Sep 2016, pp. 785-788. Review. PMID 27655498
  3. ↑ K. Gauthaman et al .: Sexual effects of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) extract (protodioscin): an evaluation using a rat model. In: J. Altern. Complement Med. 9/2/2003, pp. 257-265. PMID 12804079
  4. ↑ VK Neychev, VI Mitev: The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in young men. In: J Ethnopharmacol . 101 / 1-3 / 2005, pp. 319-323. PMID 15994038
  5. ^ OA Phillips et al .: Antihypertensive and vasodilator effects of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Tribulus terrestris in rats. In: J Ethnopharmacol. 104/3/2006, pp. 351-355. PMID 16289603
  6. ↑ JD Zhang et al .: In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the eight steroid saponins from Tribulus terrestris L. with potent activity against fluconazole-resistant fungal pathogens. In: Biol Pharm Bull . 28/12/2005, pp. 2211-2215. PMID 16327151

literature

  • Daniel Reid: Manual of Chinese Medicinal Herbs. Droemer Knaur, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-426-76158-0 .
  • V. Lad, D. Frawley: The Ayurveda herbal medicine. 4th edition. 1991, ISBN 3-89385-002-3 .
  • A. Zoller, H. Norwig: Medicinal plants of Ayurvedic medicine. 2., revised. Edition. Haug, Heidelberg 2012, ISBN 978-3-941706-50-7 .

Web links

Commons : Tribulus ( Tribulus terrestris )  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files