A systematic review of the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects and safety of triphala herbal formulation

Abstract

Triphala (TPL) is one of the oldest used polyherbal preparations. It is comprised ofTerminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica and Emblica officinalis. A variety of uses, such as anti-obesity, of TPL have been described in Ayurvedic and Al-Qanoon Felteb literature. This study focuses on the efficacy and safety of triphala in medicines, with any outcome in humans and animals; and described some of the mechanisms responsible for the many effects of this traditional medicine and main phytochemical analysis. The databases searched include Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, the search terms were “TPL” and “trifala” without narrowing or limiting search elements. The benefits of TPL in vivo andin vitro include: antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, chemo-preventive potential and anti-mutagenic activity, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, radioprotective effect, immunomodulatory, improving wound healing, enteroprotective efficacies, anti gastric ulcers and nitric oxide scavenging activity. This herbal combination can have profound healing benefits in multi-organ systems. And, it exhibits a number of health benefits like antioxidant activity, lowers cholesterol. It is rich in Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Se and Zn, which enhance their bioavailability. TPL may be potent therapeutic agents for scavenging of NO and thereby help to explain, rejuvenating, adaptogenic, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities of these traditional, and clinically used non toxic drugs. Key words: Triphala, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica, traditional medicine, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-mutagenic activity.