Abstract
Objective: The fruit of Terminalia bellirica Roxb. or Baheda (Family Combretaceae) is an extensively used herb in traditional medicines. The fruit as a whole or a part of it is used in traditional healing. Fruit has two major parts, namely, pericarp and seed, pericarp, in turn, consists of epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. Ayurvedic compound formulations such as Triphala and Pathyadi contain pericarp of the fruit. The present study is aiming a comparative phytochemical investigation of fruit parts such as epicarp, mesocarp, and seed along with the whole fruit.
 Methods: The study included physicochemical evaluation, phytochemical screening, biochemical assay, and thin-layer chromatography profile of the inner parts of the fruit.
 Results: The study shows that seeds are rich in essential oil (13.25%), but very poor quantity of phenolics (0.65 gallic acid equivalent [GAE]) and flavonoids (0.77 quercetin equivalent [QE]) is present compared to epicarp (139.05 GAE and 141.26 QE) and mesocarp (135.23 GAE and 142.05 QE). In addition to that, qualitative phytochemical screening revealed that seeds are void of steroids and lignans.
 Conclusion: The study concluded that seeds are less important in respect to the presence of secondary metabolites. It may also be concluded that mesocarp and epicarp are holding major responsibilities of therapeutic values imposed on the fruit.
Highlights
Modern drug development from the cradle of medicinal plants is the emerging trend around the globe
The study shows that seeds are rich in essential oil (13.25%), but very poor quantity of phenolics (0.65 gallic acid equivalent [GAE]) and flavonoids (0.77 quercetin equivalent [quercetin equivalents (QE)]) is present compared to epicarp (139.05 GAE and 141.26 QE) and mesocarp (135.23 GAE and 142.05 QE)
The study concluded that seeds are less important in respect to the presence of secondary metabolites
Summary
Modern drug development from the cradle of medicinal plants is the emerging trend around the globe. A report of the World Health Organization revealed that 80% of the world populations [1] in developing countries depend primarily on herbal medicines. Terminalia bellirica is such a medicinal plant which has extensive usage as pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals. T. bellirica is found in deciduous forest throughout in India below the elevations of about 3000 ft, except in the dry and arid regions of Sind and Rajputana It grows in upper Gangetic plains, Chota Nagpur, Bihar Orissa, West Bengal, Konkan, Deccan, and in most of South India [2]. 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter, dark brown, hard, covered with minute pale pubescence; seed stony, edible, light brown, indistinctly 5 angled [3]
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