Health Benefits of Gokshura

As mentioned earlier, Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) is used as medicine for wide-ranging complaints. The genus Tribulus, belonging to the family Zygophyllaceae, comprises about 20 species in the world, of which three species are of common occurrence in India, including Tribulus terrestris. Mentioned below are the best health benefits of consuming Gokshura:

Anti-Diabetic Activity of Gokshura

Saponins from Gokshura possess hypoglycemic properties and significantly reduce blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol. Gokshura shows inhibition of gluconeogenesis, i.e., the synthesis of glucose from non-sugar precursors. Gokshura extract has a protective effect on people with diabetes by inhibiting oxidative stress. Studies show a reduction in the fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, and lipid profile of diabetics treated with Gokshura extract. Gokshura improves coronary blood circulation by dilating the coronary arteries and helps to treat angina pectoris and other cardiac complications associated with diabetes.

Hypolipidemic Activity of Gokshura

Extract of Gokshura helps decrease blood levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) due to the presence of phenolic compounds. Saponins from Gokshura significantly lower the serum lipid profile, decrease endothelial cellular surface damage and partially repair the endothelial dysfunction resulting from hyperlipidemia. It also reduces the total cholesterol and increases the Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity in the liver.

Gokshura Role in Cardiovascular Diseases

Gokshura is known to enhance the heart's activity, and it is ideal for curing heart ailments like angina and reducing the susceptibility to heart attacks. Gokshura helps treat various cardiac diseases, including coronary disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral arteriosclerosis, and thrombosis due to the presence of saponins. Tribulosin from Gokshura protects the myocardium against ischemia through protein kinase C epsilon activation. Tribulosin significantly reduces malondialdehyde, aspartate transaminases, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and myocardial apoptosis rate. Aqueous extract of Gokshura possesses significant antihypertensive activity by direct arterial smooth muscle relaxation and membrane hyperpolarization. Gokshura also protects the heart and improves heart function following a heart attack.

Gokshura Helps Promote Brain Functioning

Gokshura helps treat depression, regulates mood, and balances emotional and mental states. Gokshura contains alkaloid harmine, an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase that treats depression by preventing the breakdown of brain chemical serotonin. It also helps increase the dopamine level in the brain and contributes to antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. Gokshura is effective in treating Parkinson's disease and also helps relieve stress.

Neuroprotective Role of Gokshura

Gokshura has a neuroprotective role due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It plays a crucial role in cerebral ischaemia by inhibiting the inflammatory response. After cerebral haemorrhage, brain tissue generates many free radicals that cause lipid peroxidation. Gokshura significantly increases the Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme level and decreases the malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma and brain tissue to attenuate neuron injury. Gokshura also helps treat glaucoma by reducing the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and blocking the optic nerve injury pathway.

Hepatoprotective Activity of Gokshura

Gokshura extract shows a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against hepatic injury and hepatotoxicity and also decreases the elevated biochemical parameters of the liver. The hepatoprotective activity of Gokshura is due to its antioxidant activity, metabolism regulation, and the repression of apoptosis of liver cells, which effectively reduces Caspase-3 in liver tissue as activation of caspase-3, a class of hydrolytic protease, plays a vital role in hepatocyte apoptosis. Gokshur interrupts the cascade in the process of apoptosis by reducing the expression of Caspase-3.

Anticancer Properties of Gokshura

Aqueous extract of Gokshura depicts a significant reduction in tumour incidence and tumour burden, along with a significant increase in survival period. Gokshura blocks proliferation and induces apoptosis in liver cancer cells due to the presence of saponins. It protects against radiation damage by inhibiting radiation-induced glutathione depletion and decreasing lipoperoxidation levels in the liver. Gokshura affects the processes of apoptosis and metastasis of breast and other cancer cells by reducing the overexpression of CXCR4, CCR7, and BCL2 genes associated with metastases and poor prognosis. Terrestrosin extracted from Gokshura inhibits tumour angiogenesis, i.e., the formation of new blood vessels in cancer cells. Gokshura has a preventive effect against UVB-induced carcinogenesis by enhancing NER gene expression and blocking UVB-mediated NF-κB activation.

Immunomodulatory Activity of Gokshura

Saponins isolated from Gokshura fruit show an increase in phagocytosis, indicating stimulation of nonspecific immune response. Whole plant extract of the Gokshura exhibit a significant increase in humoral antibody titre and delayed-type hypersensitivity response, indicating an increased specific immune response.

Gokshura as Absorption Enhancer

Gokshura promotes the absorption of drugs such as metformin hydrochloride due to the presence of saponins. Metformin hydrochloride is a BCS (biopharmaceutics classification system) class III drug with high solubility and poor absorption characteristics.

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Gokshura

The Anti-inflammatory activity of Gokshura is due to the inhibition of the expression of mediators related to inflammation, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). It also suppresses the expression of cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-4, which are pro-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory effect of Gokshura extract is equivalent to that of Diclofenac sodium. Studies also prove the analgesic effect of Gokshura that may be mediated centrally and peripherally. Furthermore, the saponin fraction of gokshura extract is useful for smooth muscle spasms and colic pains.

Gokshura as Anti-Ageing Agent

Consuming Gokshura regularly can make skin appear younger and slow down the effects of ageing. Gokshura helps fight fine lines, wrinkles, and body degeneration. Gokshura also helps improve the memory impairment that accompanies ageing. It also helps treat wounds, hives, itchiness, skin inflammation, and skin eruptions.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Gokshura

Gokshura exhibits good antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, H. pylori, etc. It is most active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Due to anti-fungal properties, Gokshura inhibits the Candida albicans through direct binding to sterol on the cell membrane and inhibits ERG gene expression in Candida albicans.

Anticariogenic Activity of Gokshura

Gokshura possesses significant anticariogenic activity against Streptococcus mutans, the pathogen responsible for dental caries. Extract of Gokshura significantly inhibits the growth, acid production, adhesion, and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans.