black chuglam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black chuglam
• citrine myrobalan

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Combretum arboreum
• Terminalia chebula var. citrina
• Myrobalanus citrina
• Terminalia multiflora
• Terminalia comintana
• Embryogonia arborea
• Terminalia citrina var. malayana
• Terminalia arborea
• Terminalia maoi
• Terminalia manii
• Terminalia shankarraoi
• Terminalia curtisii
• Bucida comintana
• Terminalia kanchii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 specific genus, Terminalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally throughout the various landscapes of India. Its presence is also well-documented in the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Additionally, the species extends into the mountainous terrains of Nepal and the East Himalaya. Furthermore, the plant is specifically recorded to inhabit the region of Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Terminalia citrina is defined by its adaptation to specific altitudinal gradients, typically thriving within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 1100 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests the species is well-suited to lowland and mid-elevation environments, often occupying habitats characterized by tropical or subtropical seasonal climates. Its ability to persist across this 900-meter altitudinal span indicates a degree of resilience to varying environmental pressures, such as fluctuating humidity and temperature gradients common in these transitional zones. Within this ecological niche, the plant plays a role in the structural composition of its native landscape, integrating into ecosystems that support diverse biotic interactions across its established elevational limits.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Terminalia citrina is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its ecosystem. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf presence enables the species to engage in consistent metabolic activities and provide steady ecological contributions over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia citrina is characterized by its substantial growth form, primarily developing as a woody tree. This species exhibits a significant vertical presence, with an average plant height of approximately 25 m and the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 30 m. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a stable growth habit that is categorized as self-supporting rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its large stature within its natural habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia citrina is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates how the plant captures carbon dioxide and converts it into chemical energy through the Calvin cycle. This metabolic framework is typical of many woody tropical species, allowing for efficient growth under moderate light and moisture conditions. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Terminalia citrina involves the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics across the population. The seed mass is uniform, with a mean value of 0.12346 g, which is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded values of 0.12346 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output regarding individual seed weight.

Seed mass mean:

0.12346 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Terminalia citrina has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytochemistry

Fruit

1. Planta medica
2. EXCLI journal
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Terminalia citrina has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose, 1,3,6-tri-o-galloyl-beta-d-glucopyranose, Astragalin, Chebulagic acid, Chebulic acid.

1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose

1. Planta medica

1,3,6-tri-o-galloyl-beta-d-glucopyranose

1. Planta medica

Astragalin

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Chebulagic acid

1. Planta medica

Chebulic acid

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Corilagin

1. Planta medica

Gallic acid

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Orientin

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Pinocembrin

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Punicalagin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Terminalia citrina has 2 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiestrogenic, Estrogenic.

Antiestrogenic

1. Fitoterapia

Estrogenic

1. Fitoterapia

Conditions

Terminalia citrina has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, Bacillus cereus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, mitochondrial dysfunction.

Breast cancer

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products

Alzheimer's disease

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Bacillus cereus

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Mitochondrial dysfunction

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Oxidative damage

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Terminalia citrina has 9 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and ethanolic extracts, CH3OH extract, EtOAc extract from the leaves, EtOAc extracts of the leaves, Extracts from the leaves.

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts

1. EXCLI journal

Ch3oh extract

1. Planta medica

Etoac extract from the leaves

1. Phytochemistry

Etoac extracts of the leaves

1. Fitoterapia

Extracts from the leaves

1. Journal of natural products

Aqueous extract

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Leaf extracts

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extract

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)