Conceptual recapture of Haritaki [Terminaliachebula Retz.]

Aim- To collect and comprehensively review information available regarding the medicinal use of Haritaki. Background- Haritaki [Terminalia chebula Retz.] a member of the Combretaceae family, has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. With the exception of Lavana, Haritaki possesses five Rasas. Madhura is its Vipaka, and Ushna is its Veerya. These qualities enable the plant to execute a number of pharmacological activities, including Srotas-Shodhana, Rasayana, Medhya, Deepana, and Aampachana. Chebulic acid, gallic acid, corilagin, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, triterpenoids, and anthraquinones are the primary phytochemicals found in Haritaki. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, hepato-protective, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative, radio-protective, cardio-protective, and other therapeutic effects are among the many that it carries out. In various nighantus properties of Haritaki and its different part have been explained. Though there are few review articles available on this plant but no review has comprehensively covered all aspects of Haritaki. Materials and Methods- This review is in a narrative format and done from literature and publications relevant to Haritaki that were identified through a systematic search of major computerized medical databases. Review Results- Haritaki [Terminalia chebula Retz.], was reviewed from all samhitas and Nighantu’s and from more than 50 research articles for medicinal uses and other important aspects. Conclusion- Haritaki is concluded to have more than 12 Samhita based indications Jwaraghna, Kushtaghna, Arshoghna, Chardighna, Netrahitkar, Visham Jwarhar, Shwasagna, Kasaghna, Pramehgna, Shothagna, Hridya, Rasayan, Udar roga, Krumighna and Pandughna. Haritaki also possesses more than 20 activities-Anti-oxidant & free radical scavenging activity, Cardio-protective activity, Anti-diabetic and retino-protective activity, Cyto-protective activity, Anti-viral activity, Anti-protozoal activity, Anti-inflammatory & anti-arthritic activity, Anti-allergic activity, Anti-carcinogenic activity, Anti-spasmodic activity, Wound healing activity, Purgative property, Immuno-modulatory activity, Adapto-genic & anti-anaphylactic activity, Anti-fungal activity, Hypo-lipidemic/Hypo-cholesterol-emic activity, Gastrointestinal motility improving and anti-ulcerogenic activity, Anti-amoebic activity, Chemopreventive activity, Skin Disorders and Radioprotective activity. Clinical significance- Samhita based indications of Haritaki are compared with Article concluded effect and then areas of further research are identified in drug Haritaki.