Haritaki

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Myrobalan

How does it work?

• Rich in phenolcarboxylic and tannic antioxidants (chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid) that show antioxidant activity in laboratory studies.
• Chebulagic acid and chebulinic acid exert antioxidant effects via ROS scavenging and iron chelation.
• Neuroprotective: ellagic acid-containing extracts protect against H2O2-induced and amyloid-beta (Abeta25-35) toxicity in PC12 cells.
• Anti-inflammatory effects attributed to chebulagic and gallic acid inhibition of inflammatory pathways.
• Gallic acid and ellagic acid inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes and protect against mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing Cytochrome C oxidase levels.
• Antimicrobial activity through tannin-mediated disruption of microbial cell membranes and enzyme inhibition.

Modern Research (Meta-Analysis)

Total PubMed publications found: 696

Key Research Papers

1. Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell Longetivity.

Authors: Jadoon Saima, Karim Sabiha, Bin Asad Muhammad Hassham Hassan et al. Journal: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (2015) PMID: 26448818

The exposure to ultraviolet radiations (UVR) is the key source of skin sunburn; it may produce harmful entities, reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to aging. The skin can be treated and protected from the injurious effects of ROS by using various pharmaceutical formulations, such as cream. Cream can be loaded with antioxidants to quench ROS leading to photo-protective effects. Moreover, modern medicines depend on ethnobotanicals for protection or treatment of human diseases. This review article summarizes various in vivo antioxidant studies on herbal creams loaded with phyto-extracts. These formulations may serve as cosmeceuticals to protect skin against injurious effects of UVR. The botanicals studied for dermatologic use in cream form include Acacia nilotica, Benincasa hispida, Calen…

2. Terminalia chebula Retz. extract ameliorates the symptoms of atopic dermatitis by regulating anti-inflammatory factors in vivo and suppressing STAT1/3 and NF-ĸB signaling in vitro.

Authors: Kim Hye Jin, Song Hyun-Kyung, Park Sun Haeng et al. Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2022) PMID: 35830757

Terminalia chebula (TC) is a traditional medicinal plant used for treating various diseases in humans. However, pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effects of TC in atopic treatment remain unelucidated…

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Inflammation, NF-ĸB, STAT1, STAT3, Terminalia chebula

3. [Pharmacological activity of Terminalia chebula].

Authors: Zhang Xiu-Juan, He Li-Juan, Lu Qing et al. Journal: Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (2016) PMID: 28871682

Terminalia chebula Retz, known as the “king” of Mongolian and Tibetan medicines, is a drug for a wide range of diseases. The main chemical components of myrobalan include triterpene acid, galloyl glucose, anthraquinonoid. The modern pharmacological studies show that myrobalan has multiple biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidation as well as anti-tumor. Based on domestic and foreign literatures in recent years, this paper gave a review on the advance of studies for pharmacological activity of T. chebula. and its active components, so as to provide a reference for the in-depth studies on the pharmacological action of myrobalan, and the further development and utilization of myrobalan…

Keywords: Terminalia chebula, anti-tumor, chebulagic acid, pharmacological activity

4. Potential therapeutic applications for Terminalia chebula in Iranian traditional medicine.

Authors: Jokar Assie, Masoomi Fatemeh, Sadeghpour Omid et al. Journal: Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan (2016) PMID: 27400482

Terminalia chebula (family: Combretaceae) is widely used in the traditional medicine of India and Iran to treat diseases that include dementia, constipation, and diabetes. This tree is known in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as halileh or halilaj and the fruit is used to develop treatments. It is described in ITM as an astringent that has a “cold” and “dry” temperament. References to the medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula were collected from important ITM sources and from modern medical databases (PubMed, Scirus, ScienceDirect, and Scopus). The medicinal properties described for this tree in ITM were compared with those reported in studies of modern phytotherapy. The results confirm that the tree referred to as halileh in traditional books is the Terminalia chebula used in pres…

5. The potential of Terminalia chebula in alleviating mild cognitive impairment: a review

Authors: Gao Huimin, Lu Hanyu, Fang Nengqiao et al. Journal: Frontiers in pharmacology (2024) PMID: 39494343

Keywords: MCI, Terminalia chebula, Tibetan medicine, phytochemistry, quality control, safety evaluation, traditional medicinal uses

6. A comprehensive review on the diverse pharmacological perspectives of Terminalia chebula Retz

Authors: Hassan Bulbul Md Rakibul, Uddin Chowdhury Mohammad Nizam, Naima Taslima Anjum et al. Journal: Heliyon (2022) PMID: 36051270

Keywords: Haritaki, Myrobalan, Pharmacological activities, Phytochemistry, Terminalia chebula

7. Hypolipidemic activity of haritaki (terminalia chebula) in atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Authors: Maruthappan V, Shree K Sakthi Journal: Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research (2010) PMID: 22247850

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) family Combretaceae is an important plant used traditionally for medicinal purposes. It is component of the classic Ayurvedic combination called “Triphala”. Hyperlipidemia was induced by treated orally with atherogemc diet. In atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemic model, the rats receiving treatment with Haritaki showed significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein and elevation of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Haritaki was found to possess significant hypolipidemic activity. The results also suggest that Haritaki at 1.05 and 2.10 mg/kg b.wt. concentrations are an excellent lipid-lowering agent…

Keywords: Cholesterol, Haritaki, Hyperlipidemic, Triglyceride

8. Fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz.: A review on traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents and pharmacological activities.

Authors: Nigam Manisha, Mishra Abhay P, Adhikari-Devkota Anjana et al. Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (2020) PMID: 32307775

Fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) are widely used as crude drugs in various traditional medicine systems. The aim of this article is to review the available scientific information regarding the traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents and the pharmacological activities of T. chebula. Numerous researches conducted on T. chebula have confirmed the presence of wide range of the phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids and other bioactive compounds. T. chebula is also widely studied regarding its pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activities among others. However, more in vivo and clinical studies for mechanism-based pharmacological evaluation should be conducte…

Keywords: Combretaceae, Terminalia chebula, antioxidants, bioactivity, phenolic acids, tannins

What do recent studies show?

• Chakkalakal M, Pan A, Nadora D and others 2023. Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Supplementation with Standardized Terminalia chebula Fruit Extracts Reduces Facial Sebum Excretion, Erythema, and Wrinkle Severity. Journal of clinical medicine. PMID 36836126 · doi:10.3390/jcm12041591
  8-week RCT (NCT04597502) on healthy females aged 25-65 supplemented with 250 mg Synastol TC twice daily showed that oral T. chebula extract significantly reduced facial sebum excretion, erythema, and wrinkle severity.
• Gao H, Lu H, Fang N and others 2024. The potential of Terminalia chebula in alleviating mild cognitive impairment: a review. Frontiers in pharmacology. PMID 39494343 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1484040
  Comprehensive review identified 171 chemical constituents and 11 active constituents targeting MCI. Flavonoids alleviate cognitive impairment primarily through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.
• Hassan Bulbul MR, Uddin Chowdhury MN, Naima TA and others 2022. A comprehensive review on the diverse pharmacological perspectives of Terminalia chebula Retz. Heliyon. PMID 36051270 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10220
  Documented antioxidative, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, proapoptotic, antidiabetic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiepileptic properties through multiple laboratory approaches.

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

• Possibly safe when used orally for up to 8 weeks and when applied topically for up to 40 days.
• Possibly unsafe during pregnancy; avoid use. Insufficient safety data for breastfeeding.
• May lower blood sugar: potential interaction with diabetes medications requiring dose adjustment.
• Stop use at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery due to potential blood sugar interference.
• Side effects to monitor: diarrhea, stomatitis, dehydration, fever, fatigue.
• High-dose Terminalia (arjuna species) associated with hepatotoxicity and hypothyroidism in rat studies; caution with high doses of related species.

What is it made of?

Part(s) Analyzed: Fruit

Tannins (Hydrolyzable)

• Chebulagic acid (2-4%)
• Chebulinic acid
• Corilagin
• Terchebulin
• Punicalagin
• Terflavin A-B

Phenolic Acids

• Gallic acid (1-2%)
• Ellagic acid
• Chebulic acid
• Tannic acid

Triterpenoids

• Arjunolic acid
• Arjunic acid
• Terminolic acid

Flavonoids

• Luteolin
• Rutherfordin

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), Avaleha (confection/jam), Triphala formulations

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder at bedtime; 500mg-1g extract twice daily; 15-30ml decoction

Optimal Timing: At bedtime with warm water for laxative effect; before meals for digestive stimulation; with specific Anupana depending on target dosha and condition per classical texts

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C. Protect from moisture as tannins are hygroscopic. Airtight containers essential.

Marker Compounds: Chebulagic acid, Chebulinic acid, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Chebulic acid, Corilagin, Beta-sitosterol

Synergistic Combinations

• With Amalaki and Vibhitaki as Triphala, traditionally used for digestive support
• With Guggulu, a traditional pairing
• With Pippali, traditionally used for respiratory complaints
• With Honey as Anupana, traditionally used in Kapha conditions
• With Jaggery, a traditional Anupana pairing