Volume 2 - Issue 2, March - April 2026

Herbal medicines continue to play a vital role in primary healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries where traditional remedies remain widely practiced. The increasing global interest in herbal therapeutics is largely attributed to their safety, efficacy, and broad therapeutic potential compared to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Among medicinal plants, the genus Terminalia (family Combretaceae) is of significant pharmacological importance, comprising nearly 250 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Madagascar. Terminalia bellerica Roxb., commonly known as Bibhitaki or Baheda, is a prominent medicinal plant extensively used in Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditional medicine systems. It is one of the three constituents of the classical Ayurvedic formulation Triphala and is traditionally employed for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, liver diseases, respiratory ailments, inflammation, and metabolic disturbances. Morphologically, T. bellerica is a large deciduous tree characterized by a straight trunk, spirally arranged leathery leaves, small yellowish-white bisexual flowers, and drupe-type fruits with a single hard seed. Phytochemical investigations of the fruits have revealed the presence of bioactive compounds such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid, ethyl gallate, tannins, lignans, flavonoids, β-sitosterol, and various carbohydrates, with gallic acid being the major polyphenolic constituent. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that T. bellerica exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including antidiarrheal, analgesic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, wound healing, antipyretic, anticancer, antithrombotic, antiulcer, antibiofilm, and βlactamase inhibitory effects. Toxicological evaluations indicate that the plant is relatively safe at therapeutic doses. Overall, Terminalia bellerica represents a valuable source of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential, supporting its traditional use and highlighting its promise for future drug development.

Dr.D.Rama Brahma Reddy, P.Sukanya, D.Mary Sravani, "Review on Terminalia Bellirica" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(2): Page(63-71) Mar-Apr 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.