Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Terminalia chebula

Plant secondary metabolites have been of interest to man for a long time due to their pharmacological relevance. In this search Terminalia chebula is widely used to enhance the natural resistance to various diseases. It is called the “king of medicines” and always listed first in the Ayurvedic meteria medica because of its extraordinary powers of healing. Traditionally it has been used as a popular folk medicine for homeostatic, antitussive, laxative, diuretic and cardio tonic treatments. Recent studies showed that it has also been used as antidiabetic, antiviral, cardioprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, free radical scavenging and hypolipidemic agent. The present review is an attempt to highlight the various ethnopharmacological and traditional uses as well as phytochemical and pharmacological aspect of Terminalia chebula.