Tribulus Terrestris Buenos Aires
An outbreak of hepatogenous photosensitization occurred in 40% of sheep grazing Tribulus terrestris in southern Buenos Aires province. Postmortem examinations revealed diffuse jaundice and ochre discoloration of the liver. Histopathological liver lesions consisted of fibroplasia, periductular lamellar fibrosis, hyperplasia of small bile ducts and diffuse swelling of hepatocytes. A crystalloid material was observed in some bile ducts. Aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase serum activities were elevated in all tested animals while serum bilirubin content was elevated only in the most severely affected sheep.
The History of Buenos Aires
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Extracts of different polarity from Baccharis trimera, Haplopappus rigidus Huperzia saururus, Maytenus ilicifolia, Satureja parvifolia and Senecio eriophyton were tested for their relaxant activity on smooth muscle using L-phenylephrine precontracted strips of corpus cavernosum obtained from Guinea pigs. The effects observed in the present study seem to validate the folk medicinal use of the tested plants as aphrodisiac and open new ways in the search for natural products with vasodilatory effects.
Tribulus terrestris es originario de Bulgaria, siendo utilizado durante siglos en Europa para el tratamiento de la infertilidad y la impotencia así como estimulante para aumentar la libido y el desarrollo sexual, tanto en hombres como mujeres. Además, ha resultado beneficioso en el tratamiento de la cardiopatía isquémica.
Argentinian scientists from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, studied Damiana, in addition to several other plant extracts and found that it had potent aphrodisiac properties. Their research confirmed that the plant was able to improve sexual dysfunction in men by relaxing the small muscles within the walls of the arteries of the penis. This is important because when the arteries are relaxed they widen and allow more blood to pass through them, which is what causes an erection.
Nigerian researchers have shown how extracts of Tribulus terrestris increase the testosterone (male sex hormone) level of the blood. They suggest that the aqueous extracts may thus be used to modify impaired sexual functions in humans due to their saponin components.
