Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707
Terminalia species: Phytochemical and Pharmaceutical Review
C.V. Chittibabu 1, P. Venkatachalam 1 and M. Lenin 2
1Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai-600005, Tamilnadu, India.
2Guest Lecturer in Botany, PG & Research Department of Botany, Govt. Arts College, Dharmapuri-636705, TamilNadu, India.
Corresponding author Abstract
Terminalia plant is widely present in many countries and used for various Ayurvedic
and folkore medicines. All the parts of the plants have medicinal values due to their presence
of bioactive compounds. More than 500 active compounds are isolated and characterized by
various researchers and published in reputed journals were referred in this manuscript.
Bioactive compounds contain hypoglycemic, hypolipidimic, anticancerous (cytotoxic),
antihelminthic, immunoboosting and rejuvenating, bowel system and digestive system
regulation. This paper concluded the various phytochemical and pharmaceutical role of T.
catappa , T. bellerica , T. arjuna and T. chebula species.
Keywords: Terminalia chebula , Phytochemical, Pharmaceutical and Combretaceae
Introduction: Role of Ethnomedicine in humans
According to WHO report, nearly 80% of our human population depends on
phytochemical compounds to treat the human ailments. In India, most of the primary health
products are derived basically from folkore medicines [1, 2] whereas ethnomedicine
considered as an alternative drug, cost effective and user friendly [3]. Various researchers
reported the analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of medicinal plants [4,
5, 6].Various polyphenols such as phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids showed
antibacterial, anti-biofilm and anti-enzyme activities [7, 8].
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Medicinal plants contain active compounds which showed effective against
inflammatory and damaging tissues especially in liver and muscles [9]. Ethanopharmological
role of the natural plants and their products has gained a lot attention among the researchers
and pharmaceutical companies due to their sustainable usage as well as reliability about their
bioactive compounds [10].
Genus: Terminalia
The plant family Combretaceae is comprises of more than 500 species of varied
morphology as shrubs, trees and lianas. Terminalia plants is commonly distributed in many
continents such as Asia (Himalayas), Africa and Australia. In India, Terminalia plants is quite
popular species in Ayurvedic treatments [11]. Four plants such as Terminalia catappa ,
Terminalia bellerica , Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia chebula belongs to the family
Combretaceae are selected for this review article. Table 1 showed the binomial classification
of the selected four Terminalia species along with their common and vernacular name.
Table 1: Scientific classification of selected Terminalia species.
Binomial Common name classification Indian Almond Beleric Malabar Black Myrobalan Almond Myrobalan Kingdom Plantae Plantae Plantae Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Tracheophytes Tracheophytes Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Angiosperms Angiosperms Angiosperms Order Myrtales Myrtales Myrtales Myrtales Family Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Genus Terminalia Terminalia Terminalia Terminalia Species Catappa bellerica arjuna chebula Vernacular Nattuvadumai Thandri Marudha maram Kadukaai (Tamil) name
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[12] reported the significance of Terminalia plants in human ailment treatments due
to their nutraceutical value. Terminalia phytocompounds used to treat heart diseases,
dysentery, fever, microbial infections, cold infections, gastric ulcers, hair rejuvenation, upper
digestive tract disorders, diarrhea, helminth infection, leprosy, dermal fungal infections,
internal bleeding and edema [11].
Phytochemical studies
[13] Explained that importance of phytochemical studies in Terminalia species and
also concluded that isolation of various active compounds such as tannins, terpenoids,
flavonoids, simple phenolics and phenylpropanoids. Table 2 consolidated the few active
compounds in the selected four plant species.
Table 2. Isolated active compounds using various Terminalia part extracts
Extract (solvent) Isolated compounds References Terminalia catappa
Leaves (H2O and Gallic acid, Coumaric acid, p- [14, 15, 16, 17, 18] Acetone), Bark hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-
(H 2O) dihydroxybenzoic acid, Terflavin (A), (B) and (C), Punicalagin, Isovitexin, 2”-O- galloylvitexin, 2”-O-galloylisovitexin, Gallocatechin, Orientin, Isoorientin, Vitexin, Isovitexin, Terminalia bellerica
Leaves (H 2O and Gallic acid, Coumaric acid, p- [19, 20, 21, 22] Acetone), Bark hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4- (H2O) dihydroxybenzoic acid, Terflavin (A), (B) and (C), Punicalagin, Isovitexin, 2”-O- galloylvitexin, 2”-O-galloylisovitexin, Gallocatechin, Orientin, Isoorientin, Vitexin, Isovitexin, Arjunglucoside (I)
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(2 α,3 β,19 α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en- 28-oic acid-28-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside), 7-hydroxy-3’,4’-methylenedioxyflavan Terminalia arjuna
Leaves (H 2O), Arjunglucoside (I) (2 α,3 β,19 α,23- [23, 24, 25, 15, 16] Fruits (MeOH), tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid-28- Leaves (MeOH) O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside), Catachin, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Arjunolone (6,4’-dihydroxy-7-O- methylflavones), Baicalein (5,6,7- trihydroxy-flavones) Terminalia chebula
Leaves (H 2O), Gallic acid, Methyl gallate, Ethyl [21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29] Fruits (MeOH), gallate,1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-ᴅ-Glc, 3,4,6-tri- Leaves (MeOH) O-galloyl-β-ᴅ-Glc, Chebulic acid, Chebulinic acid, Tellimagrandin(I), Corilagin, Terflavin (B) and (C), Ellagic acid, 3-O-methyl ellagic acid, Gallagic acid, 3’-O-methyl-4-O-(3”,4”-di-O- galloyl-α-Lrhamnopyranosyl) ellagic acid, 4-O-(4”-O-galloyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) ellagic acid, Ethyl gallate, Chebulanin
Pharmaceutical role of Terminalia plant species
T. catappa plant leaf extracts are used as hemostatic, antipyretic and hepatitis [30]. T.
catappa methanolic leaf extracts showed anti-ageing and anti-cancerous activities [31]. In
Ayurveda, T. bellerica phytocompounds were the predominant compounds used as
rejuvenating, laxative and detoxifying agents in polyherbal formulations [32]. T. bellerica
used widely for water diarrhea treatments [33]. A methanolic fruit extracts showed high
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inhibitory activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase [34]. [35] also reported the PPAR α and γ
signaling activities of T. bellerica fruit extracts.
[36] reported that Terminalia arjuna phytocompounds are traditionally used for to
treat liver and cardiac ailments in India and Sri Lanka. In Indian traditional medicine, T.
chebula were widely used to treat diabetes, constipation, and dementia [37]. [38] reported
antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardiotonic properties of T. chebula fruit
extracts. [35] also reported the PPAR α and PPAR γ signaling activities of T. chebula fruit
extracts. Methanolic fruit extracts of T. chebula showed anticancerous activities against many
various cancer cell lines [39]. T. arjuna ethanolic extract of bark showed antilipidimic
activities [40] whereas ethanolic leaf extracts of T. catappa has molluscicidal activity which
was used as a biocontrol agent in agriculture as well as Schistosomiasis host mortality agent
[41, 42].
Conclusion
This review compiles the short literature about the four Terminalia sp. phytochemical
constituents and their biological role in human ailments. The phytocompounds were actively
utilized in folkore, ayurvedic and allopathic medicines for hypoglycemic, microbial,
helminth, cardiotonic, digestive, rejuvenation, hypolipidemic, cancer cell growth control and
many others. Phytocompounds act as an effective and alternative medicinal product for
various chemical based products.
Acknowledgement
We would like to express our thanks to Head of the Department, Plant Biology and
Plant Biotechnology, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai, and Head of the
Department, PG & Research Department of Botany, Govt. Arts College, Dharmapuri-5,
Tamilnadu, India for the facilities provided to carry out my research work.
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Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest.
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