Therapeutic & Phytochemical Profiling of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Harad): A Review
Promila and VK Madan
Terminalia chebula Retz., belonging to the Combretaceae family, is very important medicinal plant found throughout India and other subtropical and tropicals regions of the world. It can exhibit various kinds of pharmacological activities due to presence of various kinds of phytoconstituents such as gallic acid, methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose and many others. Owing to significant health benefits exerted by T. chebula, it is known as ‘King of Medicines’ in Tibet and is used as conventional medicine for household remedy against many ailments. It is reported to possess anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, cardiotonic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, memory‑enhancing, and anti‑inflammatory activities. So the main aim of current review article is to focus on the various therapeutical potentials of T. chebula and on the various phytochemicals present in its various parts that are responsible for such action.