Herb ·Emerging evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Traditional herb marketed for testosterone, though evidence is mixed.
The bottom line
Evidence rating emerging. Most-documented uses: libido, athletic performance, urinary health. 17 sources indexed (2000–2025), with 9 interaction records on file.
Core mechanism
Protodioscin may increase LH (luteinizing hormone) release, theoretically stimulating testosterone production. Anti-inflammatory via COX-2 and LOX inhibition.6
Dosing protocol
Does NOT reliably raise testosterone in eugonadal men per placebo-controlled RCTs. Modest evidence for female libido.
Ranked by evidence and value.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Standardized Tribulus Extract.
Assumes 250-750 mg/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and sports supplement brands; high-saponin extracts cost more. Updated 2026-05-28.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Tribulus is a medicinal plant extract and is not a common edible food with standardized saponin content.
What to test, the optimal window inside the conventional range, and how long a response takes.
Tribulus terrestris (250 to 1500 mg per day of saponin-standardized extract) does NOT reliably raise testosterone in trained men in placebo-controlled RCTs; effects on libido in women have modest evidence.14,1
Marketed as a testosterone booster despite weak RCT evidence. Track testosterone honestly; do not over-attribute observed changes to tribulus.
Evidence-based stacks that include it, with the exact dose and timing each one uses.
Tribulus Terrestris contains steroidal saponins that some trials associate with improved desire and arousal scores in women, although it does not reliably raise testosterone. The clinical evidence is limited and inconsistent, so it is best considered emerging.1,2
Tribulus terrestris is a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Documented rhabdomyolysis in patient on atorvastatin who started tribulus.
Recommendation: Avoid combining with CYP3A4-metabolized statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin).
Tribulus and Tongkat Ali are both used to support libido and male sexual function, with complementary traditional and clinical use for that goal.
Recommendation: Combination is reasonable for libido support. Monitor for overstimulation and discontinue if restlessness or sleep disturbance occurs.
Tribulus and fenugreek are both used in male vitality and libido formulas, with complementary effects on sexual function and, for fenugreek, some evidence for supporting free testosterone.
Recommendation: Reasonable combination for libido and vitality goals. Monitor blood glucose because fenugreek can lower it, especially if on antidiabetic medication.
Zinc is an essential cofactor for testosterone synthesis, so correcting low zinc status complements the libido-supporting use of Tribulus in male reproductive health.
Recommendation: Reasonable combination for male reproductive support. Avoid chronic high-dose zinc above 40 mg daily to prevent copper depletion.
Combining Tribulus and Maca pairs two libido and sexual function botanicals that act through largely separate pathways, giving complementary support for desire and erectile function.
Recommendation: Reasonable to stack for libido or sexual function support. Use standard doses of each (Tribulus 250 to 750mg standardized for saponins, Maca 1.5 to 3g) and assess response over 8 to 12 weeks.
Ashwagandha adds adaptogenic, stress-lowering and modest androgen-supportive effects that complement Tribulus, with additive potential for male sexual function and well-being.
Recommendation: Can be combined for sexual function or vitality goals. Ashwagandha root extract 300 to 600mg daily carries the stronger trial evidence; pair with standard Tribulus dosing and reassess after about 8 weeks.
Boron can raise free testosterone by lowering sex hormone binding globulin and reducing conversion of testosterone to estradiol, a mechanism that complements Tribulus rather than overlapping with it.
Recommendation: Boron 3 to 6mg daily can be paired with Tribulus for free testosterone support. Stay within the boron tolerable upper intake level of 20mg daily and do not megadose.
Tribulus terrestris is widely marketed as a testosterone booster, but systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally find no consistent effect on serum testosterone in healthy or hypogonadal men. Layering it on prescribed testosterone is unlikely to add benefit and may complicate side-effect attribution.
Recommendation: Tribulus terrestris does not meaningfully add to prescribed testosterone therapy and is best avoided to keep monitoring clean. If you are using it for libido, discuss alternatives with your prescriber that have stronger evidence.
A case report described rhabdomyolysis after Tribulus terrestris was started in a patient taking long-term atorvastatin. Causality is not proven, but the outcome is serious enough to flag the combination, especially in older adults or people with kidney disease, high statin doses, or muscle symptoms.
Recommendation: Avoid adding Tribulus terrestris to atorvastatin without clinician review. Stop the supplement and seek care urgently for severe muscle pain, weakness, dark urine, or unexplained fever.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Tribulus supplementation may offer benefits in improving erectile function with a relatively good safety profile, but groups were not significantly different in testosterone levels.
Systematic review and meta-analysis examining the effect of Tribulus terrestris on erectile dysfunction, finding limited but suggestive evidence of benefit for sexual function.
Kong J, Li J, Xu M et al.. Dietary Tribulus Terrestris as a functional food combined with blood flow restriction to enhance the jump performance of basketball athletes: a randomized crossover study. Frontiers in nutrition. 2025
Nejati M, Dehghan P, Khani M et al.. The effect of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and performance of recreational runners: study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Trials. 2022
Fernández-Lázaro D, Seco-Calvo J, Pascual-Fernández J et al.. 6-Week Supplementation with Tribulus terrestris L. to Trained Male CrossFit(®) Athletes on Muscle, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Biomarkers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022
Six weeks of tribulus supplementation did not significantly alter body composition, hormonal response, or CrossFit performance in resistance-trained men.
Siddiqui MA, Itrat M, Mobeen A et al.. Efficacy of Khār-i-khasak (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in prehypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine. 2021
Tribulus (Tribestan) was evaluated in 180 males with erectile dysfunction; showed improvements in sexual function measures.
Tribulus terrestris might be a safe alternative for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women, effective in reducing symptoms with few side effects.
Sansalone S, Leonardi R, Antonini G et al.. Alga Ecklonia bicyclis, Tribulus terrestris, and glucosamine oligosaccharide improve erectile function, sexual quality of life, and ejaculation function in patients with moderate mild-moderate erectile dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blinded study. BioMed research international. 2014
Kaplan SA. Re: Comparison of Murraya koenigii- and Tribulus terrestris-based oral formulation versus tamsulosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men aged >50 years: a double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial. The Journal of urology. 2012
Tribulus supplementation may improve erectile function but does not significantly increase total testosterone levels in men based on analysis of 10 studies with 483 participants.
Evidence for tribulus' effectiveness as testosterone enhancer is limited; evidence to date suggests it is ineffective for increasing testosterone in humans.
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