Terminalia Bellirica

OTHER NAME(S): Baheda, Bahera, Bahira, Balera, Behada, Beleric Myrobalan, Belleric Myrobalan, Belliric Myrobalan, Bhibitaki, Bibhitak, Bibitaki, Bihara, Kalidruma, Karshaphala, Myrobolan Bellirique, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia bellerica, Vibhitaki, Terminalia bellirica, Myrobalanus bellirica

Overview

Terminalia bellirica is a tree. Its fruit is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine in combination with Terminalia chebula and Indian gooseberry.

The fruit of the Terminalia bellirica tree contains chemicals that might affect digestion and protect the liver. It might also affect the heart, but less than other Terminalia species.

People use Terminalia bellirica for constipation, cough, diabetes, diarrhea, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse Terminalia bellirica with other Terminalia species, including Terminalia chebula and Terminalia arjuna. These are not the same.

References
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Chevallier A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. New York, NY: DK Publishing, 1996.
  3. Anand KK, Singh B, Saxena AK, et al. 3,4,5-Trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid), the hepatoprotective principle in the fruits of Terminalia belerica-bioassay guided activity. Pharmacol Res 1997;36:315-21.
  4. Shaila HP, Udupa SL, Udupa AL. Hypolipidemic activity of three indigenous drugs in experimentally induced atherosclerosis. Int J Cardiol 1998;67:119-214.
  5. Thakur CP, Thakur B, Singh S, et al. The Ayurvedic medicines Haritaki, Amala and Bahira reduce cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Int J Cardiol 1988;21:167-75.
  6. Sabu, M. C. and Kuttan, R. Anti-diabetic activity of medicinal plants and its relationship with their antioxidant property. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(2):155-160.
  7. Donato F, Raffetti E, Toninelli G, Festa A, Scarcella C, Castellano M; TRIGU Project Working Group. Guggulu and Triphala for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial. Complement Med Res 2021;28(3):216-225.
  8. Das A, Naveen J, Sreerama YN, Gnanesh Kumar BS, Baskaran V. Low-glycemic foods with wheat, barley and herbs (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica and Emblica officinalis) inhibit a-amylase, a-glucosidase and DPP-IV activity in high fat and low dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. J Food Sci Technol 2022;59(6):2177-2188.
  9. Kwandee P, Somnuk S, Wanikorn B, Nakphaichit M, Tunsagool P. Efficacy of Triphala extracts on the changes of obese fecal microbiome and metabolome in the human gut model. J Tradit Complement Med 2023;13(2):207-217.
  10. Pingali U, Nutalapati C, Koilagundla N, Taduri G. A randomized, double-blind, positive-controlled, prospective, dose-response clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an aqueous extract of Terminalia bellerica in lowering uric acid and creatinine levels in chronic kidney disease subjects with hyperuricemia. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):281.