Tribulus Terrestris Extract – Saponins

Saponins are a class of chemical compounds,one of many secondary metabolites found in natural sources, with saponins foundin particular abundance in various plant species. More specifically, they areamphipathic glycosides grouped, in terms of phenomenology, by the soap-likefoaming they produce when shaken in aqueous solutions, and, in terms of structure, by their composition of one or more hydrophilic glycoside moietiescombined with a lipophilic triterpene derivative.

Medical uses

Saponinsare being promoted commercially as dietary supplements and nutriceuticals.There is evidence of the presence of saponins in traditional medicine preparations, where oral administrations might be expected to lead tohydrolysis of glycoside from terpenoid (and obviation of any toxicity associated with the intact molecule).

Use in animal feeding

Saponinsare used widely for their effects on ammonia emissions in animal feeding.The mode of action seems to be an inhibition of the urease enzyme, which splits upexcreted urea in feces into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Animal trials have shown that a reduced ammonia level in farming operations causes less damages to the respiratory tract of animals, and may help to make them less vulnerable to diseases.