Research Projects

The use of medicinal plants as therapeutic agents forms an integral part of the AYUSH systems, where traditional knowledge has guided the use of natural products for centuries. Tribulus terrestris, commonly known as Gokshura, is widely acknowledged in Ayurvedic literature for its diuretic, aphrodisiac, hepatoprotective, and rejuvenating properties. Beyond classical Ayurveda, various tribal communities in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Central India have used this plant to treat conditions involving inflammation, wounds, and even chronic diseases suspected to have a neoplastic origin. Despite its well-established ethnomedicinal background, there is a paucity of comprehensive scientific validation of this plant, particularly with respect to the isolation of bioactive constituents, their pharmacological evaluation, and elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying their effects. Bridging this gap is essential to substantiate traditional claims and develop standardized herbal formulations aligned with modern evidence-based approaches. This study proposes to systematically evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential of Tribulus terrestris through an integrative ethnopharmacological and molecular biology-driven approach. The findings are expected to contribute toward the development of validated phytopharmaceutical leads and support AYUSH-based integrative therapeutic strategies.