Terminalia bellirica
Terminalia bellirica, commonly known as Bibhitaki, is a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine. Found throughout Southeast Asia, this medicinal tree yields nutrient-rich fruits prized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a key component of Triphala, traditionally used to support digestive health, respiratory wellness, and overall immune function.
- Scientific name: Terminalia bellirica
- Family: Combretaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus name, Terminalia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Myrtales | WCVP |
| Family | Combretaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Terminalia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Terminalia bellirica, is known by various common names across different languages and regions. In Dhivehi, it is referred to as ބުރޮޅި, while in Hindi, it is called बहेड़ा. Its names in Chinese also remain consistent across different scripts, being identified as 毗黎勒 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and in the Hong Kong usage (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| dv | ބުރޮޅި | Wikidata |
| hi | बहेड़ा | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 毗黎勒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 毗黎勒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 毗黎勒 | Wikidata |
| ru | Бибхитаки | Wikidata |
| ta | தான்றி | Wikidata |
| or | ବାହାଡ଼ା | Wikidata |
| ml | താന്നി | Wikidata |
| mr | बेहडा | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in both Mauritius and Rodrigues. Its presence extends to East Asia, specifically within the South-Central regions of China. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is naturally distributed in Assam. Additionally, the plant is documented to inhabit the territories of Bangladesh.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Rodrigues | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Terminalia bellirica, is a versatile medicinal species where various components are utilized for their therapeutic properties. The leaves are often harvested for their specific chemical constituents, and even a single leaf can provide significant bioactive compounds when processed. The stem serves as a structural foundation and is frequently used in traditional decoctions. Most notably, the fruit is highly valued in Ayurvedic medicine, and the collection of its fruits is essential for preparing various herbal formulations.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 13
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dried fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Terminalia bellirica has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 60 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid, corilagin, chebulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 37
- Scientific sources
- 60
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gallic acid | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| ellagic acid | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| chebulagic acid | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| corilagin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chebulinic acid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| methyl gallate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| propyl gallate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 6-galloylglucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-hydroxy-3',4'-(methylenedioxy)flavan | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Terminalia bellirica has 16 reported activities identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 28
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimutagenic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Terminalia bellirica has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 58 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, HIV-1, asthma, inflammation, Aeromonas hydrophila.
- Total uses
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 58
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| HIV-1 | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aeromonas hydrophila | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Helicobacter pylori | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hyperlipidemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |