| Tribulus terrestris Preparations Comparative Investigation | |
|  | COMPARATIVE ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS PREPARATIONS
D.Obreshkova, T.Pangarova, S.Milkov and D.Dinchev
Publication in Pharmacia, vol. XLV, bk. 2/1998, 11.
Sopharma Ltd.
Summary: A comparative investigation in respect to qualitative and quantitative composition of raw materials from Tribulus terrestris L. and a variety of preparations from different origin have been performed. The results obtained concerning furostanol saponins indicate that most of the raw materials are either impurified products derived from Tribulus terrestris or from the powdered plant itself. The content of protodioscin and protogracillin in the preparations except for Bulgarian Tribestan film tablets (Sopharma) are in insignificant amount.
Tribulus terrestris L. Zigophyllaceae has long been quite popular in the folk medicine of the Oriental countries and Bulgaria as a medicinal plant in the treatment of sexual deficiency. Based on that information an original non-hormonal natural product Tribestan has been developed in Chemical Pharmaceutical Research Institute [13, 16, 17, 20] and is in production by Sopharma Joint Stock Co., Bulgaria.
The active components of Tribestan are steroid saponins of furostanol type [3, 12, 14, 15]. The two dominating furostanol bisglycosides have been identified as protodioscin and protogracillin [18] and have been tested biologically as pure substances [24].
As far as Tribestan is non-hormonal phytochemical preparation, the drug has an effect on the hormonal balance in the body [1, 8, 9, 12]. Simultaneously with emphasis upon sexual system, Tribestan has shown a general stimulating action such as motor activity, muscle tone, restorative tonic for vigor, vitality and stamina. For that reason Tribestan is suitable and successfully applied in bodybuilding and in force sports.
Toxicological studies [11], teratogenic [5] and carcinogenic [2] investigations, clinical check ups [7, 10, 23] show that Tribestan has a very good tolerance and no undesired side effects.
It may be remarked that a number of containing Tribulus terrestris are on sale in the U.S.A., with a claim of a high stimulating action. Tribulus terrestris L. is still a plant of high interest nowadays [21].
The purpose of our study is to determine furostanol saponins [4, 5, 6] in a number of raw materials of different origin as a lot of American preparations in comparison with Bulgarian Tribestan substance and filmtablets produced by Sopharma.
Materials and Methods
The analytical method used for quantitative determination of furostanol saponins [4] has been accepted by registration of Tribestan in the United States.
Results and Discussion
The results obtained are shown in Table 1 for raw materials from Tribulus terrestris and in Table 2 for Tribulus terrestris preparations.
It is obvious that most of the raw materials and preparations contain different amount of furostanol saponins, much less than those in the Bulgarian preparation. They vary in dependence on their origin.
Table 1 | Source Tribulus terrestris raw materials | Principle furostanol saponin | Conternt of Furostanol saponins calculated with reference to Protodioscin per cent | | Sopharma Tribestan | | | | - Lot No. 01196 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 51.6 | | - Lot No. 21296 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 52.6 | | - Lot No 10197 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 53.0 | | - Lot No 20297 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 57.0 | | Dabur, India VI-1006 | Unknown | 0.1 | | Kaiser Pharmaceuticals Taiwan - Product # 856 Lot # 18204 | Protogracillin | 0.2 | | Pharmabul, USA - Lot # 9610819, 3-7-97, 40 mesh | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 1.5 | | Technical Sourcing International Inc. (TSI) lot # SM971016 Saponin 90%, Furostanol 15% | Protogracillin | 20.0 | Hackettstown 07840
- Batch # TTR-9705
-Batch # TTR-9801 |
Protogracillin
Protogracillin |
3.5
4.5 | China origin
-No 8745/5/20/98
-No 5424CB/5/20/98 |
Protogracillin
Unknown |
3.2
less than 0.1 |
Table 2 | Source Tribulus terrestris preparations | Principle furostanol saponin | Conternt of Furostanol saponins calculated with reference to Protodioscin per cent in grams per tablet/capsule | | Sopharma Tribestan | | | | - Lot No. 120798 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.1050 | | - Lot No. 70298 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.1144 | | - Lot No 70498 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.1189 | | LifeTime Sports Nutrition's MALE POWER II | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0080 | | Gero Vita International GemiX | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0051 | | Biotest Laboratories TRIBEX 500 | Protogracillin | 0.0216 | | SciFi's 19-NOR TRIBUSTENE | Protogracillin | 0.0083 | | Prolab's CHRYSIN ANDROSTEN | Unknown | 0.0003 | | Optimum Nutrition's ANDRO STACK 850 | Protogracillin | 0.0040 | | AST Research's ANDRO PLEX 700 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0047 | | Muscletech's ANOTESTEN | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0159 | | Twinlab's TRIBULUS FUEL | Protogracillin | 0.0051 | | Twinlab's TESTOSTERONE FUEL BOOSTER | Protogracillin | 0.0030 | | Klein Laboratories/Sports One ANDRO-XS | Protogracillin | 0.0047 | | Universal Laboratories ANDRO STACK | Unknown | 0.0005 | | Natural Balance/Per Products ANDRO MAX | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0049 | | Bodyonic's TRIBESTROL PINNACLE | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0080 | | Engineered & Applied Science ANDRO 6 | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0091 | | Pharmabul's TRIBESTAN | Protodioscin, Protogracillin | 0.0053 | | Nuntritional Technologies, Inc. TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS | Protogracillin | 0.0029 | | ASN's PHYTOBUL | Protogracillin | 0.0051 | | Golden's TETRAGEN | Protodioscin, Protogracilllin | 0.0092 | - References
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20. Tomova, M. et al. - License 68478/18.01.1985
21. Yan Wang et al. Steroidal saponins from fruits of Tribulus terrestris. - Phytochemistry, 45, 1996, No. 4, 1996.
22. Vankov, S. On Tribestan pharmacology. Scientific-Technical Report, 1980.
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24. Zarkova, S. - Dissertation, 1978.
D. Obreshkova
Central Laboratory
Sopharma Ltd.
16 Iliensko Chaussee St.
Sofia, Bulgaria 1220
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