Pharmaceutical Properties of Terminalia bellerica (Bahera)-An Overview

In recent times, focus on plant research has increased all over the world and a large body of evidence has been collected to show immense potential of plants used in various pharmaceutical application. Terminalia bellerica plant is growing widely throughout the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. In the Traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, its medicinal uses have been described in several diseases and the action in almost all system. Glycosides, Tannins, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Ethylgalate, Gallylglucose, Chebulanic acid is mainly believed to be responsible for its various therapeutic actions. It is used as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti diarrheal, anticancer, anti diabetic, antihypertensive, hepatic protective and immune stimulatory agent. The gums of the plant have been used for the formulation of microencapsulated drug delivery system and polysaccharide isolated from it, used as pharmaceutical excipient. Therefore, it is worthwhile to review its therapeutic properties to give an overview of its status to scientist both modern and ancient. This review also encompasses on the potential application of the Terminalia bellerica (bahera) plant in the pharmaceutical field due to its wide phyto pharmacological activities.