Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS L.

Dr. R. Manonmani* and Dr. M. Revathi

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Abstract

Tribulus terrestris L. is an important shrub which is traditionally used as folk medicine. The aim was to investigate phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-microbial potential of the shrub that will potentiate its significance in traditional medicine. Ethanol (EAI), chloroform (CAI) and aqueous (AAI) extracts of T. terrestris L. leaves were taken to perform these experiments. Phytochemical screening was done qualitatively and quantitatively. Antioxidant effect of the extracts was evaluated by 1, 1 Diphenyl −2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Anti-microbial potential was determined by Agar diffusion method. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of major phytoconstituents. TPC and TFC were expressed as gallic acid and quercenin equivalents. Among the three extracts, EAI showed the highest TPC and TFC. In DPPH test, IC50 value of EAI, CAI and AAI were 25.11±2.57, 35.48±3.29 and 50.11±3.40 μg/ml, respectively. In anti-microbial assay, both the EAI and CAI showed zone of bacterial growth inhibition of the tested organisms as concentration dependent manner whereas AAI did not show any inhibition up to 500 μg/ml concentration.

Keywords: Tribulus terrestris, Antioxidant activity, Anti-microbial activity, Phytochemical screening, Radical scavanging assay.