Black Myrobalan, Chebulic Myroblan,

Terminalia chebula

Physical Characteristics

Terminalia chebula is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh.Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Seed Edible Uses: Oil Salt Seed - eaten as a snack[301 ]. They have a flavour reminiscent of almonds or filberts[301 ]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[301 ]. Fruit. The sour fruits are eaten in salads, preserved in brine or fried[301 ]. The yellow to orange-brown obovoid fruit is 25 - 50mm long[303 ]. The fruit has been used in the manufacture of black salt[301 ]. It has a distinctive smoky flavour and is a main ingredient of the spice blend known as chat masala[301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Alterative Antiasthmatic Antibacterial Antidiarrhoeal Antihaemorrhoidal Antiinflammatory Antiviral Astringent Cancer Cardiac Digestive Diuretic Dysentery Expectorant Haemostatic Laxative Parasiticide Stomachic Tonic Black myrobalan is of central importance to Ayurvedic medicine[238 ]. It has long been considered a prime remedy for all manner of digestive problems and is sacred to Siva[238 , 254 ]. The medicinal properties have been tested in numerous experiments. The fruits contain a range of medically active constituents including anthraquinones, tannins, chebulic acid, resin and a fixed oil[254 ]. Fruit extracts exhibited significant inhibitory activity on oxidative stress and age-dependent shortening of the telomeric DNA length, and thus an inhibitory effect on cellular aging. They also have shown cardioprotective effect[299 ]. A crude extract of the fruits inhibited cancer cell growth, with chebulinic acid, tannic acid and ellagic acid as the most inhibitory phenolics[299 ]. Antidiabetic effects of the fruit extract have been demonstrated[299 ]. The fruits showed antiviral activities. Gallic acid and 3 galloyl glucoses were isolated as inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase[299 ]. Extracts inhibited replication of human cytomegalovirus (CMV), and may be beneficial for the prophylaxis of CMV disease in immuno-compromised patients. They also showed activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)[299 ]. Antibacterial activities have been demonstrated[299 ]. An extract of the fruit inhibited glycolysis of salivary bacteria and may serve as an anticaries agent[299 ]. Topical administration of a leaf extract accelerated the healing process of wounds, partly by possessing antimicrobial activity[299 ] Black myrobalan is a sweet, astringent, warming herb with an unpleasant taste[238 ]. They have numerous medicinal properties: laxative, stomachic, expectorant, haemostatic, tonic, and alterative. They show antibacterial and antifungal activity, and are used to cure inflamed gums and as a relief in asthma[303 ]. The fruits are used internally in the treatment of constipation, digestive and nervous complaints, diarrhoea, dysentery, intestinal worms, haemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, abnormal uterine bleeding and inflammation, vaginal discharge, involuntary ejaculation, coughs and asthma[238 ]. Externally, it is used to treat ulcers, wounds, mouth inflammation and gum disease[238 ]. The fruit is harvested when ripe and sun-dried for later use[238 ]. The sour fruits are a major ingredient of 'triphala', a rejuvenative, laxative tonic based on this species plus the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia belerica[238 ]. It is also an ingredient of 'amrit kalash', another famous Ayurvedic tonic formula[301 ]. The bark is diuretic[272 ].

Known Hazards

None known