Abstract

Shifra ASF* and Faslul Haq MH

ABSTRACT

Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) is a native species of Southeast Asia. It is commonly used as a shade giving tree in Sri Lanka but its seeds are edible and tasty. Even though it has been used in traditional medicine for wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive systems and anti-cancer properties, in recent years there has been an interest in Terminalia catappa due to its medicinal and nutritional value. However it is not grown on a plantation scale in Sri Lanka. This review gathers the information available in the literature regarding therapeutic potential of Terminalia catappa in the field of ethnophytopharmacology. All the available information on Terminalia catappa was compiled from electronic databases of Google scholar, PubMed and library search. It reveals that there were more than 30 different types of actions of Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Anti-inflammatory, Anti metastatic, Anti diabetic, Aphrodisiac, Antitumor and Nutrient were proved by phytochemical and animal models studies. As a conclusion Terminalia catappa is an important underutilized fruit tree which has emerged as a good source of scientific literature for the treatment of various ailments. Thus, in the future a higher demand could be anticipated for various products of this tree.