Ethnomedicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology of calotropis procera and tribulus terrestris

Medicinal plants possess an important advantage in the treatment of many diseases all over the world, especially in the developing countries. Simply because the toxicity associated with synthetic drugs has forced the scientific communities as well as the drug companies to seek other alternatives, such as the use of medicinal plants. Calotropis procera and Tribulus terrestris are examples of medicinal plants that possess different biological activities. Additionally, these two species are wide spread in the UAE harsh desert environment. Anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities exhibited by these two plants have been reported in many scientific investigations. Here, we attempt to review the current body of scientific knowledge associated with of the ethnomedicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Calotropis procera and Tribulus terrestris.