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Abstract

Traditional medicines, derived from medicinal plants, are used by about 60% of the world's population. Plants of the genus Terminalia which consist of about 200-250 species are widely used as traditional medicine. The aim of this study was that review morphologic and toxonomic characteristics, pharmacological effects, traditional usage and products that derived of Terminalia in reports that published up to 2017. To conduct this review, the most up-to-date electronic journals including those indexed in the Pubmed, Elsevier, Institute for Scientific Information, Google Scholar and Scientific Information Database, databases and various books, has been used. Terminalia species have therapeutic effects such as cardiac stimulant effect that was compared with that of digoxin. Terminalia species possess several active phytochemicals with antioxidant activities. β-sitosterol is one of phytosterol compounds that has a therapeutic effect on inflammation by effect on prostacyclin I2 (PGI2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Other active phytochemical are tannins that have shown that tannins have strong anti-bacterial properties. Considering that many studies have been carried out on Terminalia plants in different fields and its beneficial effects in various diseases. To identify phytochemical compounds, further studies are required to fully determine the extent of use of medicinal plants and the phytochemistry of the genus Terminalia. In this review article can be a preliminary authentic source for the researchers to investigate the some unknown potential and therapeutic effects of these medicinal plants.