A review on medicinal potential of Terminalia catappa

Abstract

Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the fruiting plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species. Terminalia catappa is a common tree in India that is native to Southeast Asia. This is large growing tree found in tropical and subtropical area. T. catappa is a well-recognized medicinal plant in Ayurveda. It is vastly grown for its edible nuts. In this review, the pharmaceutical potential of T. catappa and its phytochemical constituents are discussed. It is a proven source for antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anticancer, and wound healing activities based on ethnobotanical usage that is investigated by researchers for pharmaceutical applications. This review concludes that T. catappa is a medicinally valuable plant, with huge pharmacological and phytochemical benefits.