TERMINALIA Terminalia spp.
Combretaceae
The genus Terminalia includes a large group of medicinally valuable trees. They
belong to the family Combretaceae. The most important medicinal species of the genus
Terminalia are the following.
1) T. arjuna (Roxb.ex DC) Wight & Arn.
San: Arjunah, Kakubhah; Hin: Arjun, Kahu, Kahua; Mal: Marutu, Nirmarutu, Venmarutu,
Attumarutu, Pulamatti; Tam: Attumarutu, Nirmarutu, Vellaimarutu, Marutu; Kan: Maddi.
It is a large evergreen tree commonly found in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Peninsular
and India. It has buttressed trunk and spreading crown with drooping branches. Bark is
smooth, grey outside and flesh coloured inside, flaking off in large flat pieces. Leaves are
simple, sub-opposite, oblong or elliptic, coriaceous, crenulate, pale dull green above, pale
brown beneath, often unequal sided, nerves 10-15 pairs and reticulate. Flowers are white,
arranged in panicles of spikes with linear bracteoles. Fruits are ovoid or oblong with 5- 7
short, hard angles or wings, the lines on the wings oblique and curving upward (Warrier et al
1996).
The bark is useful in fractures, ulcers, urethrorrhoea, leucorrhoea, diabetes, vitiated
conditions of pitta, anaemia, cardiopathy, fatigue, asthma, bronchitis, tumours, internal and
external haemorrhages, cirrhosis of the lever and hypertension. It is used in fractures and the
powdered bark is taken with milk. The bark powder is diuretic and has a general tonic effect
in cases of cirrhosis of liver. The bark has been considered by the ayurvedic physicians as
well as by modern practitioners as a cardiac tonic. It is given as a decoction with milk
(NRF, 1998). In Ayurveda, “Arjunaghrita” and “Arjunarishta” are two important
cardiotonic preparations of this drug.
Fruits contain flavanones - arjunone and 5,7,2’, 4’ - tetramethoxy flavone and a
chalcone - cerasidin. Other constituents are β-sitosterol, friedelin, methyloleanolate, gallic
acid, ellagic acid and arjunic acid. Bark gave a triterpene arjungenin, triterpene glucosides I,
II and III. Stem bark gave flavones - baicalein and arjunolone characterised as 6,4’ -
dihydraxy - 7 - methoxy flavone. Stem bark yields oxalic acid and tannins besides complex
glycosides (Bhatra et al, 1980). Bark is alexertic, styptic, antidysenteric, astringent,
antiasthmatic, febrifuge, expectorant, cardiotonic aphrodisiac and diuretic. Fruit is
deobstruent. Stem-bark is CVS and CNS active, diuretic and abortifacient. Aerial part is
CNS depressant and semen coagulant.
2) T. alata Heyne ex Roth. Syn. T. tomentosa (Roxb. Ex. Dc.) W & A.
San: Dharaphala, Saradru, Sajada; Hin. Ain; Ben: Asan, Paishal; Mal: Tehmbara;
Tam: Karramarda, Karu Murutha, Marudam, Pudavam.
This tree is distributed in Himalaya from Kangra eastwords to Goalpara in Assam and
southwards throughout the Peninsular India, upto 1200 m. The bark of the tree is widely used
in ulcers, fractures, bronchitis and diarrhoea. Hydrolysis of the gum gives oligosaccharides,
disaccharides and monosaccharides. Leaves and fruits give β-sitosterol. Bark is diuretic,
antihaemorrhagic, styptic, cardiotonic and semen coagulant.
3) T. bellirica (Craertn.) Roxb.
San: Aksha, Anilaghanaka, Baheduka, Harya, Kalinda; Hin: Bulla, Sagona; Ben: Bahera,
Baheri; Tam: Akkam, Kalanduri, Tani; Tel: Bhutavasamu Tadi, Tandra, Vibhutakamu.
Belliric Myrobalan is distributed throughout India, upto 900 m. Its bark is used in
anaemia and leucoderma. The fruit is used in bronchitis, strangury, sore throat, diseases of
eye, nose, heart and bladder, hoarseness and piles. It forms an important constituent of the
ayurvedic drug ‘triphala’. Furits contain β-sitosterol, gallic and ellagic acids, ethyl gallate,
galloyl glucose, chebulagic acid and a cardiac glucoside bellaricanin. Alcoholic extract of