Tribulosin and beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside, the anthelmintic principles of Tribulus terrestris.

M Deepak, G Dipankar, D Prashanth, M K Asha, A Amit, B V Venkataraman

Index: Phytomedicine 9 , 753-756, (2002)

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Abstract

Successive extracts of Tribulus terrestris prepared using petroleum ether, chloroform, 50% methanol and water were tested for anthelmintic activity in-vitro using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The activity could be detected only in 50% methanol extract which on further bioactivity guided fractionation and chromatographic separation yielded a spirostanol type saponin, tribulosin and beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside. Both the compounds exhibited anthelmintic activity with ED50 of 76.25 and 82.50 microg/ml respectively.