9. Chemistry, Therapeutic Attributes, and Biological Activities of Dillenia indica Linn

Dillenia indica Linn. (Dilleniaceae) is generally known as elephant apple and locally known as outenga. The vernacular names are chalta, chulta, bhavya, karambel, ouu, and ramphal. This evergreen deciduous tree is markedly disseminated in the seasonal tropics of many Asian countries, in India from Himalaya to south India. The different parts of this plant have been prevalently investigated for the plethora of biological activities including anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antileukemic, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and hairweaving activities. Differently prepared extracts of this plant have been reported mainly to contain a wide range of flavonoids, triterpenoids (lupene-type), phytosteroids, phenolics, alcohols, and ketones and an anthraquinone. Several phytochemical investigations revealed substantial presence of various types of active constituents including β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, betulin, betulinic acid, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, dillenetin and rhamnetin. Among these the major chemical constituents are betulin and betulinic acid (lupene-type triterpenoids) that show a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities like anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, etc. The present chapter thus approaches to highlight on phytochemistry, traditional and therapeutic uses, and biological activities of Dillenia indica.