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Table 2 Major phytochemicals of Triphala constituents

From: Triphala: current applications and new perspectives on the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders

Phytochemical

Structural formula

Properties

Refs.

Gallic acid

Inhibits neuronal death;

Exerts anti-cancer properties against leukemia, colon and certain prostate cancers, and lung cancer cells;

Prevents cellular mutations;

Does not affect healthy cells

[1, 2, 12,13,14]

Chebulic acid

Free radical scavenging activity in vitro; ferric-reducing antioxidant activity; significantly reduces cell cytotoxicity

Promising intervention agent against diabetic vascular complication;

[2, 4,5,6, 15,16,17,18]

Chebulinic acid

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Anti-inflammatory activity;

Natural inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor-a mediated angiogenesis

[17, 19]

Ellagic acid

Neuroprotective effect;

[17, 20, 21]

Tannic acid

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Astringent property due to the presence of polyphenolic groups;

Used as a treatment for many toxic substances, such as strychnine, mushroom, and ptomaine poisonings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries

[11, 12, 22,23,24,25]

Epicatechin

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Acts as an antioxidant in high concentration in vitro;

Prevents cisplatin-induced apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial dysfunction

[26,27,28,29]

Syringic acid

Antibacterial and antioxidant effect

[11, 12, 23,24,25, 30]

Ascorbic acid

Reducing agent and scavenger of radicals (sink of radicals); excellent source of electrons, donates electrons to free radicals such as hydroxyl and superoxide and quenches their reactivity

[30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38]