Chebulagic acid is a

benzopyran 4H-1-Benzopyran is an organic compound with the formula . It is one of two isomers of benzopyran, the other being 2H-1-Benzopyran, 2H-1-benzopyran, which is more prevalent. It can be viewed as the fusion of a benzene ring to a heterocyclic pyra ...

tannin and an

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

that has many potential uses in medicine. It has been found to be

immunosuppressive Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse react ...

hepatoprotective Hepatoprotection or antihepatotoxicity is the ability of a chemical substance to prevent damage to the liver. This is opposite to hepatotoxicity. Hepatoprotective molecules used in emergency medicine * Acetylcysteine is considered the hepatopr ...

, and a potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a human gut enzyme useful in diabetic studies. It has been shown to be active against ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often posi ...

'' and ''

Candida albicans ''Candida albicans'' is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora. It can also survive outside the human body. It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults. It is usu ...

''. It is found in the plants ''

Terminalia chebula ''Terminalia chebula'', commonly known as black- or chebulic myrobalan, is a species of ''Terminalia'', native to South Asia from Pakistan, India and Nepal east to southwest China (Yunnan), and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam.Flora of ...

'', '' T. citrina'' and '' T. catappa''. It is formed from

geraniin Geraniin is a dehydroellagitannin found in geraniums. It is found for instance in ''Geranium thunbergii'', which is one of the most popular folk medicines and also an official antidiarrheic drug in Japan. It can also be found in the rind of ''Nephe ...

through a

glutathione Glutathione (GSH, ) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea. Glutathione is capable of preventing damage to important cellular components caused by sources ...

-mediated conversion.

References

Phenol antioxidants Ellagitannins {{Aromatic-stub