Chemotaxonomic studies on natural populations of Tribulus terrestris L. collected from the Gangetic Plain (India) for the identification of elite chemotypes

Abstract

Tribulus terrestris L., commonly known as “Gokhru” in Ayurveda, has several folklore therapeutic properties, such as anti-urolithic, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, as a testosterone booster, and for urinary tract infections, etc. This study aimed to identify elite chemotypes of T. terrestris on the basis of the tribulosin content and also to examine its in vitro antioxidant activity. Plant samples (26 accessions) were collected from different locations of the Gangetic Plain (India) and tribulosin was quantified using a developed instrumental thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant activity was analyzed through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) models. From our study, three elite chemotypes were identified, viz., TT-8, TT-6, and TT-20, with concentrations ranging from 0.031 ± 0.002% to 0.46 ± 0.05%. TT-8, the plant sample from Banda, Uttar Pradesh, demonstrated the highest tribulosin content. Through the identification of elite chemotypes, they serve as promising candidates for the commercial cultivation of T. terrestris rich in tribulosin content to meet industrial demands at specific locations. © Akadémiai Kiadó Zrt 2025.