Herb Of The Month

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)

Gana or Classification according to Ayurveda: Triphala, Amalakayadi, Parushakadi ( Sushrut), Prajasthapan, Jwaraghan, Kusthaghna, Kaasghna, Arshoghna (Charak).

Family: Combretaceae
Botanical name: Terminalia chebula Retz
Synonyms: Harithaki (Sanskrit and Bengali), Haritaki, Abhaya (banishing the fear of diseases), Pathya (The good even as dietary aid), Sudha (for purification or as good as nectar), Bhisakpriya (lovely to Ayurveda Doctors), Vayastha (stabilizing youthfulness).Harad (Hindi), Karkchettu (Telugu), Kadukkaya (Tamil), Harade (Marathi and Gujarati).
Habitat: Abundant in North India and southwards to the Deccan tablelands at 1,000 to 3,000 ft.
Morphology: Haritaki is a large tree with young branchlets and leaf buds. Leaves- mostly sub opposite, distant, ovate, with long, soft, shining, rust coloured, or silvery hairs. Wither in the cold season. Flowers- Dull white or yellowish, with a strong offensive smell. Blossom in April to May. Fruits- Obovoid or ellipsoidal from a broad base, glabrous. Formation in November to January.
Chemical Composition: Fruits- Contain astringent substances - tannic acid, Chebulinic acid, gallic acid etc. Resin and a purgative principle of the nature of anthraquinone and sennoside are also present.
 
Structure of chebulinic acid

Rasa: Madhura, katu, tiktha, kashaya, amla. Only Lavana is absent.
Guna: Laghu, Ruksha
Virya: Ushna
Vipaka: Madhura
Prabhaava: Tridoshahar
Karma (Action): Mridu Virechaka (mild laxative), Tridoshahara (cures all the three doshas), Agnideepaka (enhances bioassimilation), Medhakara (enhances memory), Rasayana (rejuvenating, prevents aging and disease), Netra Hithakara (good for eyes), Laghu Paki (digests easily), Ayurvardhaka (increases life span), Brimhana (nourishes body tissues).
Parts used: Dried Fruit
Dose: 3-6 gm. of the powder or decoction or extract (equivalent) in liquid, syrup, tablet or capsule form.
Formulations based on Haritaki: Abhaya modaka, Abhayaristham, Pathyadi vati, Vyaghri Haritaki, Chitraka Haritaki, Agastya Haritaki, Triphala.
Pharmacological investigations:  Akah, P. et al., "Evaluation of Nigerian Traditional Medicine: Effects of Gakani, a Herbal Anti-Asthmatic Drug," Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 55, pp. 87-92 (1997).

 Hyun-Sun L. et al. (2007)Isolation of chebulic acid from Terminalia chebula Retz. and its antioxidant effect in isolated rat hepatocytes. Archives of Toxicology.

 Ahn, M.J. et al. Inhibition of HIV-1 integrase by galloyl glucoses from Terminalia chebula and flavonol glycoside gallates from Euphorbia pekinensis.

 Guan, Y. Y. et al. (1996) In vitro inhibitory effects of chebulinic acid on the contractile responses of cardiovascular muscles. Clin-Exp-Pharmacol-Physiol.

 Lin, T.C., Hsu, F.L., Cheng, J.T. (1993)Antihypertensive activity of corilagin and chebulinic acid, tannins from Lumnitzera racemosa. J.Nat-Prod.

 Hamada S. et al. (1997) Immunosuppressive effects of gallic acid and chebulagic acid on CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. Bio Pharm Bull.

 Yi, Z.C. et al. (2004) Effects of chebulinic acid on differentiation of human leukemia K562 cells. Zhongguo yaoli xuebao.

 Murali, Y.K., Ramesh Chander, and Murthy, P.S. (2004) Antihyperglycemic effect of water extract of dry fruits of Terminalia chebula in experimental diabetes mellitus. Ind. J. Clin. Biochem.