Introduction
Harad, scientifically known as Terminalia chebula, is an ayurvedic herb belonging to the Combretaceae family. Because of its extraordinary health benefits, it is also called the King of Medicine.1 The harad plant is found in the Middle East and tropical countries such as China, India, and Thailand.2 It is a tropical, large, evergreen tree with thick black and cracked bark. Its seeds can be eaten as snacks. Fruits of harad are yellow to orange-brown.2 It is also used as one of ingredient of the popular ayurvedic formulation Triphala ingredients, used for treating various stomach disorders.3
Other names of Harad include Harre, Harad, Harar in Hindi; Myrobalan in English; Abhay¡, K¡yasth¡, áiv¡, Pathy¡, Vijay¡ in Sanskrit; Shilikha in Assamese; Haritaki in Bengali; Hirdo, Himaja, Pulo-harda in Gujrati; Alalekai in Kannada; Halela in Kashmiri; Katukka in Malayalam; Hirda, Haritaki, Harda, Hireda in Marathi; Harida in Oriya; Halela, Harar in Punjabi; Kadukkai in Tamil; Karaka, Karakkaya in Telugu; Halela in Urdu.4
Nutritional Benefits And Chemical Composition of Harad:
Harad contains many chemical components with anti-oxidant benefits, such as phenolic acids, benzoic acids, cinnamic acids, flavonoids, beta-sitosterol (it is a plant sterol used to reduce cholesterol levels) and glycosides. Nutritional components like amino acids, fatty acids, and fructose, are also found in harad.5
Therapeutic Uses
Harad is loaded with beneficial medicinal properties like:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-cancer
- Cardio-protective property
- Antioxidant
- Anti-microbial
- Neuroprotective (protects the nerves)
- Immunosuppressive (suppresses immune system)
- Improve cognition (mental action and acquiring knowledge)
- Anti-diabetic (prevent diabetes)
- Hepatoprotective (protects the liver)
- Anti-viral2
- Laxative5 –(relieves constipation)
In traditional systems of medicine, the fruits of Harad, have been extensively used in Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathic systems of Medicine to treat brain function, geriatric complaints and improve the memory.2
Also Read: Mandukaparni: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects
Benefits of Harad
With various phytochemicals like polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids, terpenes and glycosides, harad provides many health benefits.5
1. Benefits of Harad as an anti-oxidant
The fruits, leaves, and bark of harad exhibit potent anti-oxidant benefits due to its phenolic compounds. Harad extract disrupts not only free radicals (which cause damage to body proteins and DNA) but also inhibits oxidizing enzymes in the body. This helps lower inflammation in the body.5
2. Benefits of Harad in cancer
The phenolic compounds present in harad have shown good anti-cancer activity. Harad fruit extract stopped the growth or increase in number of cancer cells and induced death in several types of cancer cells, including human breast cancer cells, human bone cancer cells, and prostate cancer cells .5
3. Benefits of Harad in diabetes
Harad fruit has anti-diabetic properties. Long-term and short-term animal studies have shown that it can lower blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.5 With larger human trials, we might be able to establish use of hard even in humans to prevent or treat diabetes.
4. Benefits of Harad in liver
Animal studies have shown that harad fruits have significant liver-protective properties and could prevent liver cell toxicity. They can also prevent drug-induced liver cell toxicity.5
5. Benefits of Harad for Infections
- Benefits of Harad for bacterial infections
Harad exhibits anti-bacterial activity against many infectious bacteria like Clostridium perfingens and Escherichia coli. It is also effective against Helicobacter pylori which causes stomach ulcers, gastritis (gastric inflammation), and stomach cancer. In addition, Harad seeds inhibit the growth of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella, and Klebsiella which cause digestive tract infections.5
- Benefits of Harad for viral infections
Harad shows anti-viral activity. It protects against the influenza A virus, helping recover from upper respiratory tract infections quickly. It could inhibit the viral enzymes needed for viral growth. It also showed therapeutic activity against the herpes simplex virus and prevented the development of the human cytomegalovirus.5
- Benefits of Harad for fungal infections
Harad extract has shown good anti-fungal activity against several yeasts and dermatophytes. These fungi cause skin infections. Harad extract showed anti-fungal activity against pathogenic fungi like Candida albicans, Epidermophyton, Floccosum, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum.5
6. Benefits of Harad for inflammation
Dried fruit extract of harad shows anti-inflammatory benefits. It could stop the formation of nitric oxide, a chemical in blood responsible for inflammation. Chebulagic acid, a component of harad seeds, could reduce the onset and progression of arthritis in animal studies.5
7. Benefits of Harad for heart
In an animal study, harad extract reduced the lipid and cholesterol levels in the blood. These activities help manage atherosclerosis (deposition of fatty material on the walls of blood vessels). Harad fruit pericarp also has cardioprotective (heart protective) properties. In addition, animal studies have shown harad extract can prevent heart damage.5
8. Benefits of Harad for stomach
The benefits of harad as a laxative are well established. Laxative benefits are helpful in managing
constipation. Harad can help in evacuating the bowel completely. Harad fruit is known to lengthen gastric emptying time. This effect appeared to be balanced by an improvement in the secretion of stomach glands, protecting duodenal ulcers.5
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9. Benefits of Harad for dental caries
Oral rinsing with harad extract reduced the total bacterial counts in saliva samples. This protective effect lasted for 3 hours after rinsing, indicating that harad may play a role in preventing dental caries.5
10. Other health benefits of Harad
It is beneficial in ophthalmia (eye disorders), haemorrhoids (piles), bleeding gums, and mouth ulcers . Its water-based paste is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and helps heals wound. A decoction made of Harad fruit is used as a gargle in cases of oral ulcers and sore throat. Its powder is an effective astringent (applied to reduce bleeding) dentifrice for loose gums, bleeding, and gum ulceration.5
Also Read: Shallaki: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!
How to Use Harad
Harad can be used in many ways for its various medicinal benefits as follows:
- The fruit paste can be applied to the skin
- The fruit can also make a decoction and be used as a gargle.
- The fruit powder can be used orally.5
Side Effects
Harad showed no side effects on rats during animal studies.3 No data were reported on the side effect of harad use in humans.
Precautions
- Harad needs to be carefully used by lean people, people on fast, people with depression, pitta (pitta has the characteristics of a hot and light body), or severe weakness.
- Pregnant women should be careful while using harad. It should be used under medical supervision.3
- Elderly, children and breastfeeding women should carefully use harad only after consultation with an Ayurvedic physician.
Interaction With Other Drugs
People on drugs for diabetes should be careful while taking harad, as it helps reduce blood sugar levels. Taking harad along with anti-diabetic medication might cause too much decrease in blood sugar levels.5
Also Read: Lakshadi Guggul – Uses, Benefits, Side effects & More!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is harad?
Harad is a herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is also called the “King of medicines” in Ayurveda due to its excellent health benefits.1
What are the health benefits of harad?
Harad has many health benefits due to a variety of compounds. Various health benefits of harad are that it is heart-protective, liver protective, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. It is beneficial in health conditions like cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and stomach disorders.5
Can harad manage bacterial infections?
Yes, harad can be used to manage bacterial infections. Anti-bacterial benefits of harad have been proven in many animal studies. Harad has also shown activity against several human pathogenic bacteria.5 But harad should not be used as a treatment for bacterial infections without consulting with a doctor. Use it only if your doctor recommends it.
Also Read: Punarnavadi Mandoor: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects
References
1. Ratha KK, Joshi GC. Haritaki (Chebulic myrobalan) and its varieties. Ayu [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2022 Apr 12];34(3):331. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24501534/
2. Afshari AR, Sadeghnia HR, Mollazadeh H. A Review on Potential Mechanisms of Terminalia chebula in Alzheimer’s Disease. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Oct;2016. Available from: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aps/2016/8964849/
3. Gupta PC. Biological and pharmacological properties of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Haritaki) – An overview. Int J pharm pharm Sci.2012;4(3):62-8. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279651727_Biological_and_pharmacological_properties_of_Terminalia_chebula_Retz_Haritaki_-_An_overview
4. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-I. Vol. 1. Government Of India. Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare. New Delhi, India: Department Of AYUSH.2001. Available from: http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-1.pdf
5. Bag A, Bhattacharyya SK, Chattopadhyay RR. The development of Terminalia chebula Retz.(Combretaceae) in clinical research. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. 2013 Mar 1;3(3):244-52. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3631759/
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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