Harde - Terminalia chebula

Harde - Terminalia chebula, also known as Haritaki, is a deciduous tree widely used in Ayurveda. Its fruits are valued for their strong purgative, rejuvenative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Referred to as the “King of Medicines” in Ayurveda, Harde supports gut health and overall longevity.

Terminalia chebula Scientific names

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Myrtales
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Terminalia
Species: T. chebula

Terminalia chebula common names

English: Chebulic Myrobalan
Hindi: Harad / Harade
Sanskrit: Haritaki
Gujarati: Harde
Marathi: Hirda
Tamil: Kadukkai
Telugu: Karakkaya

Terminalia chebula uses

Digestive Health - Acts as a natural laxative and digestive aid; supports gut cleansing and relieves constipation.

Detoxification and Rejuvenation - A core ingredient in Triphala, used to detoxify the body and promote cellular rejuvenation.

Respiratory Health - Traditionally used to manage cough, asthma, and bronchitis.

Wound Healing and Skin Care - Applied externally to support wound healing and treat skin conditions.

Phytochemical Constituents

Harde contains several bioactive compounds:

Tannins (Chebulagic acid, Chebulinic acid) – Astringent and antioxidant
Gallic acid – Antimicrobial and hepatoprotective
Ellagic acid – Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Flavonoids and Saponins – Rejuvenative and adaptogenic properties
Anthraquinones – Mild laxative effects

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part-I, Volume IV, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.

Sharma, P. V. (2003). Dravyaguna Vigyan, Vol. 2. Chaukhambha Bharati Academy.

Kirtikar, K. R., & Basu, B. D. (2008). Indian Medicinal Plants, Volume III. International Book Distributors.

Singh, R., et al. (2011). "Antibacterial activity of Terminalia chebula Retz. extract against dental caries microorganisms." Journal of Dental Research and Review, 3(2), 90–93.

Saleem, A., et al. (2002). "Antioxidant potential of Terminalia chebula fruit extracts in comparison with ascorbic acid." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79(3), 327–329.

Nadkarni, K. M. (2009). Indian Materia Medica, Vol. I. Bombay Popular Prakashan.