As a major medicinal material in Tibetan medicine,Terminalia chebula was bitter,sour,and astringent,with a neutral nature.It was attributed to the lung and large intestine meridians,and had the effect of astringent intestine,diarrhea,lung and cough.T.chebula was classified as an economically valuable medicinal and edible tree species,possessed a rich array of chemical components and pharmaco-logical effects,exhibiting biological activities such as antioxidation,anti-inflammatory,antibacterial properties,anticancer,antitumor effects,neuroprotection,hepatorenal protection,gastrointestinal protection,hypoglycemic effects,detoxification,and cardiac strengthening.T.chebula was not only widely used in Chinese medicine,but also played a very important role in beverage dyeing and other industries.This paper provided an overview of T.chebula,encompassing its herbalogical and textual research,chemical component,pharmacological activities,medicinal and edible dual-use properties,and industrial applications.And its application status was analyzed to provide a theoretical basis for its sustainable development,as well as the exploration and comprehensive utilization of its medicinal and edible properties.
Terminalia chebulaChemical compositionPharmacological activityHomology of medicine and foodDevelopment prospect