Allelopathic medicinal plants: Major Terminalia spp

The genus Terminalia (Combretaceae) comprises more than 250 species in the world. Terminalia species is particularly prevalent in South Asia, Australia, and South Africa. It is widely distributed in different countries, e.g. India, Turkey, Italy, Algeria and Morocco. Ranging from shrubs to towering deciduous trees, Terminalia species are Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia horrida, Terminalia muelleri, Terminalia nigrovenulosa, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia superba, Terminalia macroptera, Terminalia mollis, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia oblongata, Terminalia pallid, Terminalia stenostachya and Terminalia myriocarpa. They serve diverse purposes, with over 50 species and are utilized as food sources; some of them are of medicinally important herbs due to several chemical compounds in roots, leaves, buds, fruits and seed. These species have been traditionally used in folk medicine as anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hypertensive and antimicrobial agents. The aim of this review is to arrange a comprehensive overview on botanical, chemical, pharmacological as well as genetic aspects of genus Terminalia which can explain the scientific basis and pharmacological use of the species.