Phytochemical and Biological Activities of the Genus Terminalia, Emphasizing on Terminalia paniculata L.: A Review

Terminalia is the second major genus belonging of family Combretaceae. Species from this genus have been used in outmoded popular medicine globally. But then, a little study was stated on Terminalia paniculata L. (TP). This is a complete literature review of various Terminalia plants highlighting on TP, about its biological and isolated constituents. The objective of this study is to fascinate the attention of unfamiliar activities of TP, thus conducive to the growth of novel therapeutics which might benefit health of individuals suffering from illnesses. Existing data on Terminalia was sourced from electronic databases like Scopus, Goggle Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Chemical Abstract earth and Springer Link. Plant based studies have led to extraction of various categories of phytochemicals like, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, triterpenoid glycosides, lignan and ligan derivatives in Terminalia plants. Extracts and their isolated constituents of various Terminalia plants reported a good spectrum of activities. TP consist of polyphenols such as ellagic acid, 3,3’-di-O-methyyl ellagic acid and 3,4,3’-O-trimethyl flavellagic acid. Studies on Terminalia genus has opened a diverse active chemical component. Many biochemical potentials have authenticated use of Terminalia in therapy of different ailments in plant-based medicine. Future studies desired to discover bioactive constituents’ accountable pharmacological mechanisms. Terminalia paniculata is a tree native to southwest India (including the Western Ghats and Karnataka). Known in the timber trade as kindal. Though it has been used in the ancient system of medicine for menstrual problems, cough, bronchitis, cardiac debility, hepatitis, diabetes and in obesity, very little literature support is available on these biological activities, except for its few like acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity. This review is an attempt to emphasize on the phytochemical and biological activities of terminalia genus and the species Terminalia paniculata.