Myrobalans

Myrobalans

Author Name : Mr. Sujeet Ubale, Dr. Smita takarkhede, Mr. Akash Singh, Mrs. Ankita Singh, Mr. Aatish Singh

ABSTRACT

Myrobalans are fruits obtained from trees of the genus Emblica (Emblica officinale) and Terminalia (T. belerica and T. chebula). Myrobalans consists of three fruits namely, amla (Emblica officinale), beherda (Terminalia belerica) and harda (Terminalia chebula). These myrobalans fruits with seeds are removed and used as a mixture consisting of an equal proportion of three. The first component of myrobalans is Emblica officinalis (EO or Amla or Indian gooseberry) has a hallowed position in Ayurveda as an Indian indigenous system of medicine. Amla belongs to family Euphorbiaceae and also known as Indian gooseberry or Phyllanthus emblica. Geographical source of Amla is mainly India, also grows in Pakistan, Sri Lanka South East Asia, Malaysia and China. Terminalia chebula also known as harda is a tree used in traditional medicines, belonging to family combretaceae. . Its ripe fruit mainly in dry form also known as Terminalia fruit.  It is also called as black myrobalan, chebulic myrobalan or ink tree. Third component of myrobalans is Terminalia bellerica belonging to family Combretaceae and also called as belleric myrobalans. It is available in the Indian market for the treatment of dyspepsia, diarrhea, and dysentery, inflammation of the small intestine biliousness, flatulence, liver disease and leprosy. Myrobalans are used mainly as an astringent, stomachic, tonic and laxative. The laxative property of myrobalans is due to presence of anthracene derivative in the pericarp. These myrobalans are main ingredients of Ayurvedic preparation known as ‘Triphala’ and it used for treatment of variety of ailments. Commercially myrobalans may be used in dyeing and tanning industry. This review attempts to provide information on source, chemical constituents, pharmacological actions and uses of all three components of myrobalans.  

Keywords: - Myrobalans, Emblica officinale, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula.