Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Evaluation of Selected Terminalia Species: A Review

Plants of the genus Terminalia are amongst the most widely used plants for traditional medicinal purposes world-wide. Many Terminalia species have significant roles in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda and other Asian medicinal systems, due to their diverse pharmacological properties. This review focuses on the published evidence concerning phytochemical profiles, antioxidant potential and biological efficacy of six selected Terminalia species: Terminalia arjuna, T. chebula, T. bellirica, T. catappa, T. elliptica and T. pendula. Particular attention is given to phenolics, flavonoids and tannins, commonly used antioxidant assays such as DPPH, ABTS and reducing power assays, and reported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, wound healing and cytotoxic activities. T. arjuna is widely recognized for its cardioprotective potential and is rich in tannins and triterpenoids. T. chebula and T. bellirica, two important components of the Ayurvedic formulation Triphala are characterized by high phenolic content and diverse reported biological activities. T. catappa, commonly known as tropical almond, is a pantropical tree associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. T. elliptica and T. pendula have also been investigated for their phytochemical constituents, antioxidant potential and selected biological properties, although the available literature is comparatively limited. Various plant parts, including leaves, bark, stems, fruits and flowers, have been reported to possess bioactive constituents and biological potential. This review provides a comparative synthesis of published literature on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties and biological efficacy of selected Terminalia species and highlights existing research gaps and future research perspectives.