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Tt8.5
Tribulus Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
37 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Tribulus appears to help in 4 of 5 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2000–2026 with a typical study size of 60 participants.
Based on 37 studies · 4 meta-analyses · 25 RCTs · 3,314 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
4helped1unclear· 32 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Men's vitalitySteroidal saponins may support hormonal balance · 4-8 weeks · Modest libido improvements · 4-8 weeks
Probably helps33 studies
Women's healthMay help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes · 4-8 weeks · Supports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational9 studies
Fertility & reproductiveMay support reproductive health and fertility markers · 4-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Muscle strength & powerEnhanced libido and sexual desire · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Endurance & exercise performance
Too few graded studies2 studies
Lean body mass & muscle growthEnhanced libido and sexual desire · 2-4 weeks
Too few graded studies2 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies2 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 27 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
67%
across studies
People studied
3,314
typical study: 60 people
Strongest designs
29
4 pooled, 25 randomised
Showed benefit
80%
4/5 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
1
1–3 months
7
Populations Studied
Men with erectile dysfunction4
Women with female sexual dysfunction1
Male athletes1
Physically active adult males1
Active research area
15 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
200020132026
1Meta-AnalysisCited 8×n=820 · large study2020
Tribulus terrestris significantly improved sexual function scores without affecting testosterone levels in healthy men.
Qin D et al. · Phytomedicine (2020)
Significant improvements in sexual desire and satisfaction across pooled RCTs
No significant effect on serum testosterone in healthy males
Benefits in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder confirmed
2Sexual arousalMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=536 · large study2021
Preliminary evidence suggests that Tribulus terrestris and Panax ginseng may be effective as alternative treatments for FSD in a clinical setting.
Sha'ari N et al. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2021)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Panax ginseng was found to be effective in treating sexual arousal (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.11 - 0.97, p = 0.014) and sexual desire (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.27 - 0.90, p < 0.001) compared to placebo.
Preliminary evidence suggests that Tribulus terrestris and Panax ginseng may be effective as alternative treatments for FSD in a clinical setting.
3Erectile dysfunction improvementSystematic ReviewCited 5×n=172 · medium study2025
Conclusions: TT supplementation has a low level of evidence regarding its effectiveness in improving erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction, and no robust evidence was found for increasing testosterone levels.
Vilar Neto JO et al. · Nutrients (2025)
The Jadad score revealed low methodological quality for 50% of the studies.
TT supplementation at doses of 400 to 750 mg/d for 1 to 3 months improved erectile dysfunction in 3 of the 5 studies that assessed this parameter.
Eight out of ten studies did not report significant changes in androgen profile following TT supplementation, but the subjects in the neutral studies did not have low androgen levels at baseline.
Suharyani S et al. · International journal of impotence research (2026)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The outcomes of continuous variables were aggregated into the mean difference (MD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) utilizing random-effects models.
Additionally, on both the IIEF-5 [MD 3.23 (95%CI 1.89, 4.58), p < 0.00001] and IIEF-15 [MD 14.44 (95%CI 5.75, 23.14), p = 0.001], Tribulus terrestris outperformed placebo.
However, the two groups were not significantly different in terms of total testosterone levels.
7Efficacy of dietary supplements for erectile dysfunctionMeta-AnalysisCited 12×2023
DSs marketed in Italy are usually blends of many substances that are frequently employed at a negligible dose or without any evidence.
Petre GC et al. · Nutrients (2023)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Based on the scoring system, 2 (8%) supplements matched with the cluster of higher expected efficacy, 3 (12%) with the lower efficacy cluster and 20 (80%) matched with the criterion of no expected efficacy.
A systematic review of the literature was performed to evaluate the effect of DS and to detect the active ingredients able to improve erectile function-called effective ingredients (EIs)-and their minimal effective daily dose (mED).
A metanalysis identified some nutraceuticals, such as Panax ginseng, Tribulus terrestris and L-arginine, that are able to improve male sexual function.
9Testosterone and erectile dysfunction parametersSystematic ReviewCited 19×2021
Many male supplements claim to improve testosterone or ED parameters; however, there is limited evidence, which should be considered when counseling patients.
Kuchakulla M et al. · International journal of impotence research (2021)
No whole supplement products have published RCT evidence. 19% of ingredients received an A grade for strong positive evidence with net positive evidence in two or more RCTs.
In total, 68% received C or D grades for contradicting, negative, or lacking evidence.
Overall, 69% of ingredients in testosterone supplements and 52% of ingredients in ED supplements have published RCT evidence.
The results of the present systematic review showed that the consumption of T terrestris L., in general, resulted in the improvement of sperm parameters.
Sanagoo S et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2019)
The results of the present systematic review showed that the consumption of T terrestris L., in general, resulted in the improvement of sperm parameters.
This result was obtained from 6 out of the 7 articles.
11UTI management with medicinal plantsSystematic ReviewCited 34×2019
Although herbal medicines have more potential over conventional medicine but more discoveries are required to explore the phytoconstituents and their mechanism of action responsible for the management and cure of UTI.
Shaheen G et al. · Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology (2019)
Herbal medicines are effective to combat bacterial resistance with high efficacy, and easy availability with minimal or no side effects.
For these reasons it has attained the attention of researchers wanting to explore the herbal treatment of UTI.
Vaccinium macrocarpon, Tribulus terrestris, Trachyspermum copticum, Cinnamomum verum and Hybanthusenn easpermus are some common medicinal plants reported to have therapeutic potential for the management and cure of the UTI.
The nitric oxide release effect of TT may offer a plausible explanation for the observed physiological responses to TT supplementation, independent of the testosterone level.
Qureshi A et al. · Journal of dietary supplements (2014)
A limited number of animal studies displayed a significant increase in serum testosterone levels after TT administration, but this effect was only noted in humans when TT was part of a combined supplement administration.
Literature available for the effectiveness of TT on enhancing testosterone concentrations is limited.
Evidence to date suggests that TT is ineffective for increasing testosterone levels in humans, thus marketing claims are unsubstantiated.
13Bacterial vaginitis treatmentRCTCited 7×n=127 · medium study2018
A clinical study with a longer follow-up time is suggested for assessing the recurrence of BV after treatment with Forzejeh metronidazole.
Baery N et al. · Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2018)
Likely real
The amount and odour of discharge, Amsel criteria, pelvic pain and cervical inflammation significantly decreased in Forzejeh and metronidazole groups (p = <.001).
There was no statistically significant difference between the metronidazole and Fozejeh groups with respect to any of the clinical symptoms or the laboratory assessments.
14Erectile dysfunction symptomsRCTCited 30×n=100 · medium study2014
At the dose and interval studied, Tribulus terrestris was not more effective than placebo on improving symptoms of erectile dysfunction or serum total testosterone.
Santos CA Jr et al. · Actas urologicas espanolas (2014)
Could be chance
The time factor caused statistically significant changes in both groups for IIEF-5 only (P = .0004), however, there was no difference between the two groups (P = .7914).
At the dose and interval studied, Tribulus terrestris was not more effective than placebo on improving symptoms of erectile dysfunction or serum total testosterone.
16SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction improvementRCTCited 5×n=41 · small study2023
Further and similar studies should investigate the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms.
Shahmoradi N et al. · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2023)
Results: Symptoms of sexual dysfunction, depression, and anxiety decreased over time, but more so in the Aphrodite condition, compared to the placebo condition (significant p-values and large effect sizes).
Over time, sleep disturbances decreased irrespective of the study condition.
Further and similar studies should investigate the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms.
The test drug Khār-i-khasak (T. terrestris Linn.) was found to be effective and safe in lowering blood pressure compared to placebo in prehypertensive individuals.
Siddiqui MA et al. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (2021)
The test drug Khār-i-khasak (T. terrestris Linn.) was found to be effective and safe in lowering blood pressure compared to placebo in prehypertensive individuals.
This herbal extracts can be a new therapeutic option for patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris who are reluctant to use drugs.
Yang JH et al. · The Journal of dermatological treatment (2021)
By the end of the study period, both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesion counts were significantly decreased in herbal extracts group (p< .05).
In immunohistochemistry staining, expressions of IL-1α, IL-8, and keratin 16 were significantly decreased in herbal extracts group compared to vehicle group from baseline to week 8.
This herbal extracts can be a new therapeutic option for patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris who are reluctant to use drugs.
19CrossFit performanceRCTCited 23×n=30 · small study2021
However, TT supplementation may act as a testosterone booster helping the recovery after physical loads and mitigating fatigue.
Fernández-Lázaro D et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Borderline
Body mass, fat mass, fat composition, testosterone and cortisol levels, and CrossFit® performance (5 common Workouts of the Day: back squat, bench press, dead lift, Grace, and CrossFit® Total) were assessed before and after intervention.
There were no significant group x time interactions for the outcomes of the study except for testosterone levels and bench press performance (p < 0.05).
TT supplementation did not impact enhance performance or body composition in CrossFit® male athletes.
20Erectile function improvementRCTCited 18×n=177 · medium study2014
Therapy with Tradamix improves erectile and ejaculation function and sexual quality of life in patients with mild-moderate ED and in particular for those with moderate arterial dysfunction.
Sansalone S et al. · BioMed research international (2014)
Borderline
Patients with moderate arterial dysfunction showed significant increase of PSV (P < 0.05), IIEF-EF (P < 0.05), MSHQ-EjD (P < 0.05), and SQoL-M (P < 0.05) in Group A.
We observed significant changes of the IIEF-15 in Group A (mean difference: 11.54; P < 0.05) at 3 months versus Group B (P < 0.05).
Therapy with Tradamix improves erectile and ejaculation function and sexual quality of life in patients with mild-moderate ED and in particular for those with moderate arterial dysfunction.