IN VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT AND FRUIT OF GOKSHURA (TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS LINN.)

Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn, Zygophyllaceae), a medicinal plant mentioned in ayurvedic classics is mainly known for its effect on filtration defects of renal system and urinary tract infections. The present study was performed as an attempt to prove the anti inflammatory and anti arthritic activity of kashaya (decoction/ aqueous extract) of the two useful part, root and fruit of Gokshura by invitro Protein denaturation and Proteinase enzyme inhibition test. Both root and fruit of Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn) were found to be effective in inhibiting protein denaturation. Maximum inhibition of 82.89%% was observed for root kashaya and 74.81% was observed for fruit kashaya at 500 μg/ml concentration. A significant inhibition of 79.94% proteinase enzyme activity was exhibited by fruit of Gokshura and root kashaya showed 45.29% at the concentration of 500 μg/ml. Thus the study revealed the presence of anti-inflammatory and anti arthritic action in both root and fruit of Gokshura. This is a preliminary study and further investigations are required to find active component of the extract and to confirm the mechanism of action.