The African Talisay tree, scientifically known as Terminalia catappa, is a fascinating plant with a wide range of uses and properties. This article delves into the various aspects of this tree, from its botanical characteristics to its medicinal and ecological significance.
Botanical Characteristics
The genus name Terminalia derives from Latin "terminalis" or "terminus", meaning 'ending', referring to the habit of the leaves being crowded at the end of the shoots. Terminalia catappa is a deciduous or evergreen tree with conspicuous layered branches, growing 10-20 m tall. The bole is erect, and the bark is gray, smooth, and rather mottled.
The leaves are smooth and bright green when young, arranged in terminal rosettes of unequal leaves on short, thickened stems, up to 7 cm long. The apex is broadly rounded, the base is very tapered, and the margin is wavy. Flowers are small and greenish, in erect spikes up to 5 cm long. The fruit is small and oval; seeds are about 1.5 cm long with no obvious wings.
Geographical Distribution
The tree has been spread widely by humans, so the native range is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to northern Australia and New Guinea through southeast Asia and Micronesia into the Indian subcontinent. More recently, the plant has been introduced to parts of the Americas.
Traditional and Ornamental Uses
In some African countries, the African Talisay tree is widely planted as an ornamental and shade tree. Until the mid-20th century, the tree had been used extensively in Brazilian urban landscaping, since being a rare case tropical deciduous, their fallen leaves would give a "European" flair to the street. T. catappa is widely grown in tropical regions of the world as an ornamental tree, grown for the deep shade its large leaves provide.
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The wood is red and solid, and has high water resistance; it has been used in Polynesia for making canoes. The fruit is edible, tasting slightly acidic.
Phytochemical Composition
Phytochemical screening of ethanol extract of leaves yielded the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and glycosides. The leaves contain several flavonoids (such as kaempferol or quercetin), several tannins (such as punicalin, punicalagin or tercatin), saponins and phytosterols.
GC and GC-MS analysis identified 12, 23, and 17 constituents from the leaf, stem-bark and twig and accounted for 89.57%, 95.77%, and 05.92%, respectively. Hexahydrofarnesylacetone (30.05%) and Z-pinene (16.71%) were the main constituents in the leaf oil; and nonanal (21.16%) and heptanal (10.57%) in the stem bark volatile oil. Xylene isomers, namely: meta and para (21.98%-23.56%) were the major components of the twig, with substantial among of nonanal (13.64%).
Study of stem bark yielded seven compounds: 3,3'-di-O- methylellagic acid 4'-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (1), 3-O-methylellagic acid (2), arjungenin or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (3), arjunglucoside or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid glucopyranoside (4); 2α,3α, 24-trihydroxyolean-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (5), stigmasterol (6), and stigmasterol 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (7). Isolated Terminaliamide (1), a new ceramide, along with 4 known compounds (2-5).
Medicinal Properties and Uses
Due to this chemical richness, the leaves (and the bark) are used in different herbal medicines for various purposes. For instance in Taiwan, fallen leaves are used as an herb to treat liver diseases. In Suriname, an herbal tea made from the leaves has been prescribed against dysentery and diarrhea.
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Studies have shown antifungal, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, anticancer, anti-candida biofilm properties. Extracts of T. catappa may contain agents for prevention of cancers (although they have no demonstrated anticarcinogenic properties) and antioxidants, as well as anticlastogenic characteristics.
"Terminalia Catappa: The Secret Healing Tree for a Healthier Life!"
Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Activities
- Antiplasmodial Activity: Extracts from the stem bark of T. mantaly and leaf of R. superba exhibited the highest antiplasmodial activities (IC50 0.26-1.26 µg/mL) and selectivity (DI >158) on both resistant and sensitive strains.
- Antibacterial Activity: The AgNPs showed significant antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains tested, and particularly higher against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.
- Antifungal Activity: T. mantaly water extract was 64 times more potent, the hydroalcoholic extract 2 times more active, and the residual extract 128 times more active than T. catappa.
Specific Medicinal Applications
- Malaria Treatment: In Cameroon, the plant is used to treat malaria.
- Liver Diseases: In Taiwan, fallen leaves are used as an herb to treat liver diseases.
- Dysentery and Diarrhea: In Suriname, an herbal tea made from the leaves has been prescribed against dysentery and diarrhea.
Nanoparticles and Anticancer Effects
Methanolic extracts of root, leaf, and stem bark of Terminalia mantaly are used to synthesize gold nanoparticles with enhanced cytotoxic effects. Some TMAuNPs showed selective toxicity towards specific cancer cell types. Study reports on the use of Terminalia mantaly leaf extracts for the synthesis of biogenic silver NPs and its antibacterial activity.
Ecological and Industrial Applications
Study evaluated the rheological properties of T. mantaly exudate and showed the exudate can be a substitute for conventional natural polymers in water-based frilling muds. Polymers are known for controlling fluid loss and modifying rheology in drilling muds through polymer chain entanglement and polymer-solvent interactions.
Study evaluated the enzymatic activity of endophytic fungi from the medicinal plants Terminalia catappa, Terminalia mantaly, and Cananga odorata. The plants showed high diversity of endophytes, which could be potentially useful for the production of industrial enzymes. Amylase, cellulase, lipase and lactase activities were detectd in a significant number of isolates.
Safety Studies
Study evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity effects of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Terminalia mantaly on hematological parameters in mice. Study suggests the single oral dose is relatively safe when administered orally in rats. The limit dose of 5000 mg/kg did not cause mortality or signs of acute toxicity.
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Study evaluated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia manta;y on liver tissue and biochemical markers in rats. Results showed the hydroalcoholic extract of T. mantaly, when used in the dose range evaluated in the study, may be well tolerated by the liver. Doses or 150, 300, and 500 mg/kbw were used.
Study evaluated the possible toxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of bark of T. mantaly on rats. Results showed no significant change in biochemical parameters.
Study evaluated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia mantaly (HAETM) on tissue and kidney biochemical markers of rats. The HAETM should be globally well tolerated in doses ranging from 150 to 600 mg/kbw in animals (rats).
Comparative Nutritive Analysis
Study evaluated the effects of different drying methods of Terminalia mantaly leaves n their nutritive values. Crude protein was highest in the sun-dried sample. There were significant differences in the crude protein, ether extract, moisture and ash contents in the three treatments.
Phytochemical analysis showed that alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and oxalates were detected. Fresh leaves had the highest values for alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and oxalates. Sun-dried leaves had the lowest value for tannins. Air-dried leaves had the highest oxalates. Fresh leaves had the highest saponins.
The results conclude that sun-dried leaves could be partially or fully incorporated in the diets of livestock because of generally low anti-nutritional phytochemical content and highest crude protein content.
| Treatment | Crude Protein | Ether Extract | Moisture | Ash Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Leaves | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] |
| Air-Dried Leaves | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] |
| Sun-Dried Leaves | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] | [Value] |
