(Arabic) Of an ancient people Khasah, Khassa, Kahsa, Kahsah
Habitat: Throughout the plains of India.
English: Caltrops (bigger var.).Ayurvedic: Brihatgokshura, Kshouraka, Trikantaka, Gokantaka, Swaadukantaka, Bhakshantaka.Unani: Khaar-e-khasak Kalaan, Gokharu Kalaan.Siddha/Tamil: Peru-neranji, Annai- neringi.Action: Fruit—used for spermatorrhoea, nocturnal emissions, menstrual irregularities, puerperal diseases, genitourinary disorders, difficult micturition, chronic cystitis, renal calculus. Root— antibilious.
The stem and fruits contain flavo- noids pedalitin and its glucoside (ped- aliin), diometin, dinatin and its derivatives. The fruits contain nonaco- sane, tritriacontane, triacontanoic acid, sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, rubusic acid, luteolin as major constituents. Leaves and fruits yield phenolic acids which include caffeic, protocatechuic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids. Flowers gave dinatin, quercetin and quercetin- 7-glucoside.Aqueous extract of the fruit is reported to produce in vitro inhibitory effect on crystallization in urinary lithi- asis. The solubility of uric acid in aqueous extract is reported to be 45% more than in water alone.The plant extracts exhibit diuretic activity.Dosage: Fruit, root—3-5 g powder; 50-100 ml. decoction. (CCRAS.)... pedalium murexHabitat: Throughout India, up to 5,400 m.
English: Land-Caltrops, Puncture Vine.Ayurvedic: Gokshura, Gokshu- raka, Kshudra (Laghu) Gokharu, Shvadamshtraa, Swaadu-kantaka, Trikanta, Trikantaka. (Larger var. is equated with Pedalium murex Linn. The fruits of both the varieties are conical and have four spines, not three as the synonyms denote. Hence, Acanthospermum hispidum DC. and Martynia annua Linn. have been suggested as the source of Trikantaka.)Unani: Khaar-e-Khasak Khurd.Siddha: Sirunenunji, Nerinjil, Nerunjil.Action: Fruits—diuretic, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, anabolic, spasmolytic, muscle relaxant, hypotensive, hypoglycaemic. Used in strangury, calculus affections, urolithiasis, crystalluria, urinary discharges, pruritus-ani, as a tonic in sexual inadequacy; also as a supporting medicine in cough and asthma. Leaf—diuretic, haemostatic. Root—stomachic, diuretic.
In addition to all these applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India attributes cardiotonic properties to the root and fruit.The plant contains saponins, which on hydrolysis yield sapogenins—dios- genin, gitogenin, chlorogenin, rusco- genin, 25D-spirosta-3, 5-diene, among others. Flavonoids—rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-glucoside and-rutinoside, and tribuloside have been isolated from the leaves and fruits. The seeds contain carboline alkaloids— harmane and harmine. Harmol is also reported from the herb.A saponin (unidentified) is reported effective for treating angina pec- toris in people with coronary heart disease (406 cases were treated). (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)Diuretic (more than furosemide), proerectile aphrodisiac, hypotensive, hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic (40- 67% in diabetic mice) activities have been confirmed in several experimental studies. (Pub Med, Medline abstracts, 2003.)Dosage: Fruit—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... tribulus terrestris
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