Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity, Phytochemical Phenolic Composition, Cholinesterase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities, and Antimicrobial Potential of Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris (TT) is a medicinal plant traditionally utilized in the management of various health conditions, including inflammation, edema, and hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate the phenolic profile of the ethanolic extract of TT and to evaluate its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties. Phenolic analysis revealed several quantified compounds, including vanillic acid, resveratrol, fumaric acid, acetohydroxamic acid, quercetin, hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, butein, caffeic acid, and catechin hydrate, while phloridzin dihydrate was detected below the quantification limit. Among the detected compounds, vanillic acid was found to be the predominant phenolic component. Biological activity assays demonstrated that the extract possessed remarkable cholinesterase inhibitory potential, exhibiting IC50 values of 9.11 ± 2.12 μg mL−1 and 8.77 ± 0.62 μg mL−1 against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. Furthermore, antioxidant capacity was confirmed through FRAP and CUPRAC assays, with corresponding values of 0.136 and 0.296. The antimicrobial efficacy of the extract was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium, revealing inhibitory effects against all tested bacterial strains. Overall, the findings indicate that the TT represents a promising natural source of phenolic compounds with significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and enzyme inhibitory activities, supporting its potential application in the development of pharmaceutical and therapeutic products.