Potential Nutraceutical Use of Tribulus terrestris L. in Human Health

Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris) is an herb that has been used in various traditional medicine practices since ancient times. More recently, the pronounced health benefits of this herb have been evaluated within a wide scope, without properly acknowledging its nutraceutical value. Therefore, this article intends to provide an integrated overview on the nutraceutical potential of T. terrestris in the area of human health promotion. This review discusses the potential employability of T. terrestris and its derived products as nutraceuticals in prevention, treatment, and management of prevalent human diseases and associated conditions. The outcomes of several in vitro and in vivo studies elaborate on the ability of T. terrestris supplements and different fractions to act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, testosterone boosting, and cardio, renal and liver protective agents. Many studies reveal that T. terrestris would act as an excellent nutraceutical that prevents harmful impacts to the human body. Its bioactivities are driven by various factors, and it has been suggested to be used to replace certain pharmaceuticals and synthetic drugs. In-depth clinical studies on the herbal pharmacodynamics are needed and would broaden the scope of nutraceutical applications of T. terrestris.