Int J Pharm Bio Sci Volume 3 Issue 1, 2012 (January - March), Pages:416-419
An Investigation To Variation In Constituents In The Fruits Of Terminalia Chebula Retz. At Different Maturity Stages
Mammen Denni, Bapat Sandhya And Sane Ramesh
DOI:
Abstract:
Fruits of Terminalia chebula Retz., or the chebulic myrobalan, hold an important place in Ayurveda, as an important constituent of Triphala. They are harvested at three different stages of maturity and are thus available in the market as three different varieties. The most mature fruit is referred to as Surwary harda and the intermediately mature fruit is referred to as Rangari harda. The least mature fruit is commonly referred to as Bal harda. In the present work the variation in constituents of these products is followed up. Harda is known for its tannin content, especially gallic and ellagic acid derivatives. Gallic acid was found only in the mature fruits, while ellagic acid was found in both young and intermediate fruits. Two methyl ether derivatives of quercetin i.e. 3’-Methoxy quercetin and 3’, 4’-Dimethoxy quercetin, were identified in all the three fruits, whose contents were found to increase with maturity. Melilotic acid has been identified along with vanillic and p-coumaric acids. All the three phenolic acids were found present only in intermediate and mature fruits. Pro-pelargonidin has been isolated from the mature fruit, using paper chromatography and identified using spectral analysis. Quinones were found to be absent in the young fruit.
Keywords: T. chebula, triphala, fruit maturity, ellagic acid, gallic acid, pro-pelargonidin