Combretaceae- The Triphala family

This family is very specialized in having an inferior unilocular ovary with pendulous ovules.

Chemically it is known for the combretastatins (which are showing great anticancerous potential) and tannins.

Other characters are internal and interxylary phloem, leaf base often with two gland containing flask shaped cavities at base. Hypanthium is long syncarpous unilocular with 2-6 ovules pendulous on long funiculi from locule apex.

Fruit leathery and drupaceous, 1-seeded

A family of 500 species included in 20 genera.

Useful plants

A. General uses

1. Terminalia catappa (Indian almond) The nuts of this plants are edible.

The kernel (100 g) contained 5.5 g of moisture, a high level of lipids (64.7–140.4 of Recommended Daily Intake (RDI)), proteins (36.0% RDI), sugars (6.0% RDI), and tannins (0.6%).

The defatted kernels (100 g) contained high levels of manganese (184.8–236.1% RDI), magnesium (173.6–235.2% RDI), iron (89.7–201.9% RDI), zinc (87.9–120.9% RDI) and calcium (41.5% RDI), and contributed for 98.6% of RDI proteins.

The kernel oil showed a high level of unsaturated fatty acids including oleic (27.1%) and linoleic acids (26.6%) and saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid (40.0%) as well as several phytosterols and triterpenes.

These kernels and their unsaturated oil are of interesting nutritional value but could also be used as a biofuel or lubricant.

Catappa leaves is used to treat scabies, leprosy wounds and other skin diseases (Nair and Chanda, 2008).

Its traditional use includes the treatment of diarrhea and fever, especially in India, the Philippines and Malaysia.

More and more pharmacological studies have reported thatthe extract of T . cat appa leaves and fruit s have anticancer , antioxidant, anti-HIVreverse transcript ase, anti-inflammatory , antidiabetic ef fects and hepatoprotectiveactivities,

2. Anogeissus latifolia Wall. (Dhawa, Gum ghatti)

This tree, a native of India and Sri Lanka yields a valuable timber and gum ghatti which is

used as a substitute for gum Acacia.

Gum ghatti, a brownish yellow solid, on hydrolysis yields mannose, galactose, arabinose and glucuronic acid.

The known data suggest that the macromolecule is highly branched with long chains of 1-6, linked b-D-galactose with a small proportion of 1-3-links.

The side chains contain glucuronic acid, 1®2 linked with mannose and/or 1®6 linked with galactose.

The amount of arabinose is very high (40%) and it is proposed that these units occur as end groups and presumably form a surrounding sheath to the macromolecule.

Gum ghatti is used as a substitute for gum Acacia.

Gum ghatti (Anogeissus latifolia) or Indian gum is a complex non-starch polysaccharide.

It has been widely employed in food, pharmaceuticals, paper and other industries primarily due to its excellent emulsification and thickening property.

It is hypolipidaemic in that it causes a significant decrease in the serum cholesterol, triglyceride and elevation in HDL in atherogenic diet..

B. Medicinal plants

1 Triphala.

Terminalia chebula

Retz. (Latin, terminus = top, alluding to the leaves borne as terminal clusters - Hirda/ Haritaki, Chebulic myrobalan)

This is a moderate-sized much branched tree abundant in Western Ghats.

The fruits contain 30-40% of tannins mostly as di-O-galloyl and tri-O-galloyl glucose.

Some of the component tannins isolated is chebulagic acid (C41H30O27 .10H2O), chebulinic acid (C41H30O27) and corilagin.

Also present are the breakdown products (partial) such as chebulic acid, 3,6-

digalloyl glucose, gallic acid, ellagic acid, terchebin (1,3,6-trigalloyl glucose) and 1,2,3,4,6- pentagalloyl glucose.

Also present in the fruit are sugars (glucose and sorbitol), amino acids, and organic acids (succinic, quinic and shikimic acids).

Haritaki (the fruit rind) is a component of Triphala ( a group of three fruits (T. chebula, T. bellerica and Emblica officinalis)

which is used as a ‘rasayana ‘ (rejuvenative) drug.

Haritaki is antiseptic, laxative, diuretic and carminative.

This is one of the best laxatives, and used for diabetes, fever, anemia, cardiac disorders, diarrhoea and dysentery.

Haritaki is one of the chief sources of tannin in India.

Terminalia bellerica Roxb.

(Vibhitaki/Behada, Belliric myrobalan)

This also is a large deciduous tree seen throughout India. Fruits are found to contain tannins , beta-sitosterol, ellagic acid, gallic acid, chebulagic acid, ethyl gallate and sugars.

Tannins present are both hydrolysable and condensed type.

Seeds yield a fatty oil and protein.

The rind of the plant is one of the ‘triphala’, a general tonic.

It is used for anemia, cough, fever and is laxative and germicidal.

It is considered to be useful in treating leprosy, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, inflammations and problems of eye, nose and throat.

This also is a source of tannin and dye.

2. Arjuna:.

Terminalia arjuna W.&A

This is a large tree with a thick trunk, common in Western India. Bark is found to contain tannins (both hydrolysable and condensed, 20-40%), arjunic acid, a trihydroxy triterpene monocarboxylic acid, (C39H48O5) and its glucoside arjunetin, -sitosterol, friedlin and ellagic acid.

Also present in the bark are CaO, MgO and Al2O3.

The bark of Arjun tree is a well known cardiotonic.

This is used in all sorts of cardiac failure and dropsy.

It is also a good diuretic, febrifuge, tonic and antidysenteric.

3. Combretum caffrum Kuntze (South African willow tree)

The bark of this South African willow tree, yields a group of stilbenes, combretastatins which show marked anticancer properties and used as medicine for that disease.

C. Biopesticides

1. Combretum sundaicum Miq.(Dukhar-rau, jungle weed, opium anti dote)

Leaves possess a tea-like flavour.

Decoction of the roasted leaves is given as anti-opium agent.

The leaves of this plant and of C. wallichi are considered pest repellant.

D. Natural Dyes

1. Terminalia arjuna W. &A.

Bark extract yields a red dye.

2. Terminalia bellirica Roxb.

This also is a source of tannin and dye

3. Terminalia catappa Linn.

(Desi-badam, Bengal Almond)

The bark and leaves yield a brownish yellow dye used in coloring cotton, silk and wool.

The leaves and fruits contain corilagin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, brevifolin etc whereas the bark and wood contain catechins, epicatechin and procyanidin.

4. Terminalia chebula Retz.

The powdered rind of the fruit with alum yields fast yellow color.

With iron sulphates black color is produced.

The fruit is extensively used as a dye mordant.

Flowers on extraction with water yield a yellow dye and khaki color is produced with mordants.

The powdered flower is used for producing a yellow dye and to top indigo dye materials to develop green color.

It is also used to print yellow and green colors to leather.

Haritaki is one of the chief sources of tannin in India.

Ornamental plants.

Quisqualis (16) Q. indica

(Rangoon creeper) is a twiner with attractive flowers cultivated for ornamental purpose.

Mammen Daniel