~ 273 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2016; 5(6): 273-277 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2016; 5(6): 273-277 Received: 08-10-2016 Accepted: 09-11-2016 Sudhanshu Mishra Institute of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Nims University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India J Anuradha Institute of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Nims University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India Sandeep Tripathi Associate Professor, Institute of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Nims University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India Sandeep Kumar Institute of Advanced Sciences and Technlogy, Nims University, Jaipur India Correspondence Sandeep Tripathi Associate Professor, Institute of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Nims University, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy of Triphala constituents: Emblica officinalis, Terminalia belerica and Terminalia chebula Sudhanshu Mishra, J Anuradha, Sandeep Tripathi and Sandeep Kumar Abstract In Indian medicinal preparation, triphala (tri ‘three’; phala ‘fruits’) comprises equiproportional herbal fruits: viz. Emblica officinalis (Syn. Phyllanthus emblica), Terminalia belerica and Terminalia chebula. The ‘Tridoshic rasayana’, three constituent elements is characterized with balancing and rejuvenation effects govern the human life. Triphala constituents are rich in anti-oxidants and reported to poses anti- microbial properties. The present study deals with the qualitative and quantitative analysis of triphala components using different extraction techniques. Dry fruit extracts of E. officinalis, T. belerica and T. chebula were screened for the secondary metabolites presence and its antioxidant, antimicrobial activities were determined as well. The sign of biochemical properties opens up an arena to bring its effective use as a single or in combination, against different pathological conditions. Thus results obtained may be helpful rationale to formulate these fruit extract in modern system of health care. Keywords: Antioxidant, antimicrobial activity, Triphala, phytochemicals 1. Introduction The traditional system of herbal medicinal practice outcompete the use of synthetic drugs due to the fact of natural origination, cost effectiveness and least side effects. In contrast, synthetic drugs exhibit toxic and mutagenic effects than natural drugs [1] . These attributes brings extensive use of these herbal medicine since thousands of years in developing and developed countries. The most significant character of oriental herbal medicine is that herbal preparations are utilized singly or in composite formulae [2] . Thus the practice of Indian traditional medicine is widely spread and the abundance of plants, encompassing the natural phyto-chemical resources might serve as lead for novel drug development [3] . Researchers have formulated several modes for alienating the health issues and one such option is the facile and cost-effective herbal medicinal practice. A broad spectrum of diseases was treated using herbs since several decades [4] . Almost one fourth of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from the botanical species. For an example, Carbenoxolone, the first effective drug against gastric ulcer was discovered from the use of an indigenous plant ( Glycyrrhiza glabra), called ‘Athimadhuram’ in siddha medicine [5] . Similarly such investigation is the identification of Gefarnate from cabbage [6] . As a result of herbal medicinal practice, several fresh and non- drug substances were innovated. So, it is prime important to formulate novel medicines by eradicating constraints in the herbal medicinal practices. Triphala is among the most popular herbal medicine in Indian ayurvedic system that could treat several diseases. Triphala churna is the equiproportional powdered formulation of the three myrobalan fruits: Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Syn. Phyllanthus emblica L.) (Amla), Terminalia belerica Roxb. (Bibhitaki) and Terminalia chebula Retz. (Haritaki) that is enriched with bioactive compounds. This formulation has been in extensive use in ayurveda, for treating several disorders such as gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and visual systems [7] . The essential bioactive phyto-chemicals of triphala include alkaloids, essential oils, flavonoids, saponins tannins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds [8] . The plants that are rich in phenolic compounds serve as resource of antimicrobials and antioxidants [9-12] . Thus ingestion of antioxidant compounds scavenges free radicals such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and decreases the levels of oxidative stress by gearing down or prevents complications associated with oxidative stress induced diseases [13] . These constituents have also been reported in ayurvedic medicine for its higher anti-microbial activity against wider spectrum of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacterial strains [9, 10, 12] . The present study aims to determine the anti- oxidant and anti-bacterial efficacy of the botanical species that constituent triphala all along the phyto-chemical assay as well.