It is a tree with a rounded crown and spreading branches. The bark is dark-brown, often longitudinally cracked; the leaves are ovate or elliptic with a pair of large glands at the top of the petiole; the flowers are yellowish white, in terminal spikes; the drupes are ellipsoidal, obovoid or ovoid, yellow to orange-brown and hard when ripe, becoming 5-ribbed on drying; the seeds are hard and pale yellow.

Carminative, increases the secretion of gastric juices, laxative and antispasmodic (fruit); lowers blood sugar and antiviral (flower); coagulates semen and stimulates the central nervous system (stem bark); protects the liver.

Herbal Monograph
Myrobalans

Arginine, ascorbic acid, asparagine, chebulin, chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, corilagin, ellagic acid, gallic acid, pectin, shikimic acid, sorbitol, succinic acid, tannic acid, xylose (fruit); beta-sitosterol (bark); stearic, oleic, palmitic and behenic acids (oil from the kernel); linoleic acid, oleic acid (seed)

Stomach problems, tooth decay, hemorrhoids, external wounds, ulcers, scalds, inflammation of the mouth mucosa, increases the secretion of gastric juices (fruit); in asthma, sore throat, vomiting, sore eyes, heart diseases, hiccups, indigestion, constipation etc.

Not be used by those who are pregnant. Safety in young children, nursing women, or those with severe liver of kidney disease is not known.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.