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2609005146
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  • Review

Terminalia chebula Retz.: A Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Plant, Their Immense Bioactive Phytochemical Constituents, Biodiversity, Pharmacological and Therapeutics Medicinal Values

  • P. K. Sagar 1,*,   
  • A. Sagar 2,   
  • A. Akhtar 3,   
  • A. Jayanthy 3,   
  • J. P. Singh 3,   
  • M. Kumar 3,   
  • A. S. Khan 1

Received: 27 Jul 2026 | Revised: 07 Sep 2026 | Accepted: 10 Sep 2026 | Published: 24 Sep 2026

Abstract

T. chebula Retz. is widely known by names such as Harad, Haritaki, Halela Zard, or Black Myrobalan. Due to its remarkable medicinal properties, it has held great significance in the traditional Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine since ancient times. It is often referred to as “Amrita” or nectar due to its wide range of therapeutic benefits for their remarkable health care benefits and widely recognized as the "King of Medicine" in Ayurveda, Tibetan, Unani and Chinese therapeutics system of medicine. TCR has long held a historic global identity. It was initially introduced into practice and recommended for its highly reliable traditional and therapeutic properties in ancient Indian Ayurvedic texts (such as the Charaka Samhita), as well as in classical texts from Tibetan, Unani, and Chinese (Jin Dynasty) traditions. Consolidates existing information regarding the traditional medicinal uses, bioactive phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological properties of TCR, placing special emphasis on its clinical significance and the therapeutic potential of its marker compounds. Various scientific studies have identified numerous bioactive phytochemical marker compounds in this plant, including tannins, phenolic acids, lignans, triterpenes, various flavonoids etc. with their immense medicinal properties. These marker compounds have demonstrated various biologically active properties in in-vitro and in-vivo studies, such as anticancer and antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective effects due to their highly potent therapeutic potential. Despite extensive research and development and considering the safety profiles of extracts obtained using various solvents and their marker compounds as the variations in the shape and size of the TCR plant’s fruits rind/pericarp parts indicate significant natural biodiversity resulting from their occurrence in diverse natural habitats. This comprehensive review emphasizes enhancing the clinical and therapeutic potential of TCR and facilitating the studies of its major marker’s flavonoids (6) as Luteolin, Quercetin, 3-methoxy quercetin and 3,4′-dimethoxy quercetin – (methylated quercetin derivatives), Isoquercetin, Rutin along with their detail’s structure descriptions along with their bioactive marker compounds and their pharmacological applications.

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DOI
10.53941/jmnp.2026.100018
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Volume 3, Issue 3
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Sagar, P. K.; Sagar, A.; Akhtar, A.; Jayanthy, A.; Singh, J. P.; Kumar, M.; Khan, A. S. Terminalia chebula Retz.: A Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Plant, Their Immense Bioactive Phytochemical Constituents, Biodiversity, Pharmacological and Therapeutics Medicinal Values. Journal of Medicinal Natural Products 2026, 3 (3), 100018. https://doi.org/10.53941/jmnp.2026.100018.
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