Identification and Validation of Different Types of Fruit of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) in North-Western Ghats of North Karnataka with Special Reference to HPTLC

Background: The fruit of Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula Retz.) is considered as Amruta (Nectar) and ‘King of Medicines’ in Ayurveda, it known to be have 7-varieties with differences in botanical and pharmacological characters. Actual identification of these variety and it’s botanical correlation was not done. Thus, present study was done to identify these varieties in North-Western Ghats of North Karnataka and correlate its chemo-profile by HPTLC method. Methods: A prospective survey study was conducted in 10 localities of north-western Ghats of north Karnataka along with GPS system and identified and collected. The fruit was analyzed on Shape, Size, Dimension, Weight per fruit, color, mesocarp contents, seed character and size in relation with Ayurvedic classification and respective microscopic histology and Powder characters, Physico and phyto-chemical, HPTLC. Results: The study identified 5 varieties as Vijaya (Termenalia chebula Ver. 2 (typica)), Rohini (Termenalia chebula Ver. 3 (citrina)), Pootana (Termenalia chebula Ver. Tomentella), Amirtha (Termenalia chebula Ver. Gangitica) and Abhaya (Termenalia chebula Ver. Parviflora, Thewaites Enum). Further, each variety has difference on its botanical, organoleptic, physicochemical analysis. The % of Chebulinic acid was maximum of 6.4% in abhaya compare to least in Amritha of 3.8% and Gallic acid is more in Rohini (4.3%) compare to least in Pootani (2.1%) and rest of other chemicals were identified in traces. Conclusion: The study potentially demonstrated the availability of varieties of Myrobalan, there was enormous differences on its phytochemicals by HPTLC.