Botanical name: Terminalia belerica, Combretaceae
Common names: Bibhitaki ('intimidating'), Aksha ('eye'), (S); Bahera (H), Tanni, Tanrikkai (T), Belleric myrobalan (E)
Botany: Bibhitaki is a large deciduous tree with a buttressed trunk, thick brownish-grey bark with shallow longitudinal fissures, attaining a height of between 20 and 30 meters. The leaves are crowded around the ends of the branches, alternately arranged, margins entire, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, rounded tip or subacute, midrib prominent, pubescent when young and becoming glabrous with maturity. The flowers are pale greenish yellow with an offensive odor, borne in axillary spikes longer than the petioles but shorter than the leaves. The fruits are ovoid drupes, grey in color, obscurely five-angled when dry, containing a kernel within. Bibhitaki is found growing wild throughout the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and SE Asia, up to 1200 meters in elevation, in a wide variety of ecologies. Bibhitaki is also commonly cultivated, planted along roadsides in large cities (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1018; Warrier et al 1996, 258).
Part used: fruit, bark
Dravyguna: fruit
•Rasa: amla, kashaya, madhura
•Vipaka: madhura
•Virya: ushna, ruksha, laghu
•Karma: chardinigrahana, pachana, bhedhana (unripe fruit), purishasangrahaniya (mature fruit), krimighna, jvaraghna, chedana, kasahara, svasahara, kushtaghna, mutravirechana, shotahara, raktastambhana, chakshushya, romasanjanana, vedanasthapana, ashmaribhedana, madakari (kernel), rasayana, tridoshaghna
•Prabhava: Bibhitaki is called Œintimidating¹ because disease shrinks in the face of its power to heal. Its synonym Aksha (eye) indicates Bibhitaki¹s utility in diseases of the eye (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 164; Warrier et al 1996, 258; Dash 1991, 9-10; Nadkarni 1954, 1203-04).
Constituents: Bibhitaki contains several triterpenoids including belleric acid, b-sitosterol, and the saponin glycosides bellericoside and bellericanin. Other constituents include polyphenols (gallic acid, ellagic acid, phyllembin, ethyl galate, and chebulagic acid), lignans (termilignan, thannilignan, hydroxy-3',4'-[methylenedioxy] flavan, anolignan B), and a fixed yellow oil (Valsaraj et al 1997; Kapoor 1990, 321; Nandy et al 1989; Row and Murthy 1970).
Medical research:
•Respiratory disorders: In an open clinical trial of 93 patients suffering from various respiratory conditions Bibhitaki was found to have anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, expectorant and anti-tussive activities (Trivedi et al 1979).
•Hepatoprotective: The compound 3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid) isolated from Terminalia belerica was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced physiological and biochemical alterations in the liver. The main parameters studied were hexobarbitone-induced sleep, zoxazolamine induced paralysis, serum levels of transaminases and bilirubin. Hepatic markers assessed were lipid peroxidation, drug metabolising enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and triglycerides. The administration of the compound led to a significant reversal of majority of the altered parameters, indicating a hepatoprotective activity (Anand et al 1997).
•Cardiovascular: The effect of T. belerica, was evaluated in experimentally-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in rabbits. T. belerica was shown toreduce the levels of lipids in hypercholesterolemic animals, and promoted a significant decrease in liver and heart lipids (Shaila et al 1995).
•HIV: An extract of Terminalia belerica showed significant inhibitory activity on human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase (el-Mekkawy et al 1995). Four lignans (termilignan, thannilignan, hydroxy-3',4'-[methylenedioxy] flavan, anolignan B) possessed a demonstrable anti-HIV-1activity in vitro (Valsaraj et al 1997).
•Antimalarial: Four lignans (termilignan, thannilignan, hydroxy-3',4'-[methylenedioxy] flavan, and anolignan B) possessed an antimalarial activity in vitro (Valsaraj et al 1997).
•Antimutagenic:Two polyphenolic fractions isolated from T. belerica were significantly effective against mutagenic effects in Salmonella typhimurium. Interaction of the polyphenols with S9 proteins may be the probable cause of the inhibitory effect (Padam et al 1996).
•Antifungal:Four lignans (termilignan, thannilignan, hydroxy-3',4'-(methylenedioxy) flavan, and anolignan B) possessed demonstrable antifungal activity in vitro (Valsaraj et al 1997).
Toxicity: No data found.
Indications: Dyspepsia, flatulence, hemorrhoids, constipation (unripe fruit), chronic diarrhea and dysentery (dry fruit), hepatosplenomegaly, intestinal parasites, cholelithiasis, fever, sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis, cough, catarrh, bronchitis, asthma, skin diseases, edema, ophthalmia, alopecia and premature graying, headache.
Contraindications: Vatakopa (Frawley and Lad 1986, 164).
Medicinal uses: Bibhitaki is a celebrated constituent of Triphala, along with Haritaki and Amalaki, stated specifically to be a rasayana for Kapha, useful for reducing excess medas (Frawley and Lad 1986, 164; Dash and Junius 1983, 88). It is a stimulating astringent, and has wide application in any condition of marked by atony, prolapse, catarrh or hemorrhage, useful in the treatment conditions such as uterine prolapse and menorrhagia. The mature, dried fruit of Bibhitaki is effective in the treatment of dysentery and intestinal parasites but should be taken along with purgatives such as Markandika (Cassia angustifolia) to counteract its constipating effects; the sun-dried unripe fruit however is gently aperient and can be used on its own. Dash and Junius state that Bibhitaki is a good remedy in for vomiting in pregnancy (1983, 88). Frawley and Lad mention that Bibhitaki is a useful antilithic in gall bladder and urinary diseases, liquefying and expelling the stones (1986, 164). The Chakradatta states that the fruit pulp mixed with ghee is covered with cow dung and heated in a fire, and held in the mouth to control coughing (Sharma 2002, 150). For severe cough and asthma the churna of the dried fruit may be taken with honey (Sharma 2002, 158-9). Mixed with saindhava, Pippali and buttermilk, Bibhitaki is taken in hoarseness (Sharma 2002, 162). A decoction of the dried fruit may be taken internally and externally as an eyewash in the treatment of ophthalmological disorders (Nadkarni 1954, 1204). Vaidya Mana Bhajracharya indicates that the fresh fruit pulp is used as a collyrium in the treatment of nontraumatic corneal ulcer (avranashukla) (1997, 85). Warrier et al mentions that the oil from the seeds is trichogenous, and can be used topically for leucoderma and skin diseases (1996, 258). The kernel is typically removed before Bibhitaki is used, and specifically stated to be madakari (narcotic), used topically as an analgesic in the treatment of inflammation and pain, and internally in vomiting, bronchitis and colic (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1018-19; Dash and Junius 1983, 88). In ancient India Bibhitaki fruits were used as a form of dice (Sharma 1993, 18).
Dosage:
•Churna: 2-5 g b.i.d.-t.i.d.
•Kvatha: 30-60 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
•Tincture: crushed dried fruit, 1:4, 50%; 1-3 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
References:
Anand KK, Singh B, Saxena AK, Chandan BK, Gupta VN, Bhardwaj V. 1997. 3,4,5-Trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid), the hepatoprotective principle in the fruits of Terminalia belerica-bioassay guided activity. Pharmacol Res. 1997 Oct;36(4):315-21.
Bhattacharya, Mana, Alan Tillotson and Robert Abel. 1997. Ayurvedic Ophthalmology: A Recension of the Shalakya Tantra of Videhadhipati Janaka. Unpublished manuscript.
Dash, Bhagwan. 1991. Materia Medica of Ayurveda. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers.
Dash B and M. Junius. 1983. A Handbook of Ayurveda. New Delhi: Concept Publishing.
Frawley, David and Vasant Lad. 1986. The Yoga Of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine. Santa Fe: Lotus Press.
Kapoor, LD. 1990. CRC Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton, FLA: CRC Press
Kirtikar KR and BD Basu. 1935. Indian Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed. Vol. 1-4. 1935. Reprint. Delhi: Periodical Experts.
Nadkarni, Dr. K.M. 1954. The Indian Materia Medica, with Ayurvedic, Unani and Home Remedies. Revised and enlarged by A.K. Nadkarni. 1954. Reprint. Bombay: Bombay Popular Prakashan PVP.
Nandy AK, Podder G, Sahu NP, Mahato SB. 1989. Triterpenoids and their glycosides from Terminalia belerica. Phytochemistry. 28(10):2769
Padam, S.K. et al. 1996. Antimutagenic effects of polyphenols isolated from Terminalia belerica myroblan in Salmonella typhimurium Indian J Exp Biol. Feb;34(2):98-102.
Row LR and Murthy PS. 1970. Chemical examination of Terminalia belerica Roxb. Indian Journal of Chemistry. 8:1047-1048
Shaila HP, Udupa AL, Udupa SL. 1995. Preventive actions of Terminalia belerica in experimentally induced atherosclerosis. Int J Cardiol. 1995 Apr;49(2):101-6.
Sharma, P.V. 2002. Chakradatta. Sanskrit Text with English Translation. Varanasi: Chaukhamba
Sharma, PV. 1993. Essentials of Ayurveda: Shodashangahrdayam. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass
Srikanthamurthy, K.R. 2001. Bhavaprakasha of Bhavamishra. Vol. 1. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy
Trivedi VP, Nesamany S, Sharma VK. 1979. A clinical study of the anti-tussive and anti-asthmatic effects of Vibhitakphal Churna (Terminalia belerica Roxb.) in the cases of Kasa-Swasa. Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha. 3:1-8.
Valsaraj, R. et al. 1997. New anti-HIV-1, antimalarial, and antifungal compounds from Terminalia bellerica. J Nat Prod. Jul;60(7):739-42
Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C. eds. 1996. Indian Medicinal Plants: A Compendium of 500 species. Vol 5. Hyderabad: Orient Longman. |
