Abstract

REVIEW OF HALELA SIYAH WITH UNANI PERSPECTIVE AND MODERN PHARMACOLOGY

Afshan Khan*, Aisha Siddiqui, M. A. Jafri, Mohd Asif and Shahid S. Chaudhary

Abstract

Herbal medicine is among the most frequently used complementary medicines. Now a day’s most of the people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary health care needs. Treatment with medicinal plants is considered very safe as there is no or minimal side effects. The propitious fact is that, use of herbal treatments is independent of any age groups. Most of the pharmaceutical companies are currently conducting extensive research on plant materials congregated from the rain forests and other places for their potential medicinal value. Terminalia chebula Retz (Combretaceae) is called as “King of medicine” because of its phenomenal powers of healing. In Unani system of medicine, it is commonly known as Halela siyah. The whole plant endowed with high Medicinal value and conventionally used for the treatment of various infirmities for human being. Terminalia chebula Retz possesses a multiple pharmacological and medicinal activities such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal motility and wound healing activities etc. This review attempts to compile the data regarding its ethanobotanical actions and uses notably of Unani background along with its phytopharmacological portray.

Keywords: Herbal medicine, Halela siyah, Terminalia chebula Retz, phytopharmocology.