Botany
A large, deciduous tree, reaching a height of 20-25 meters. The branches are horizontally whorled. Leaves are shiny, obobate, 10-25 cm long, tapering to a narrow and heart-shaped base with a expanded rounded apex. Leaf stalks are short and stout. Flowers are white, small, and borne on 6- 18 cm long spikes in the axils of leaves. Fruit is smooth and ellipsoid, 3-6 cm long, and prominently bi-ridged to the sides. Pericarp is fibrous and fleshy, the endocarp hard.

Distribution
Found throughout the Philippines along seashores. A common inland tree preferred for its umbrella-type shade.

Constituents and characteristics
Seed contains 51.2 percent fixed oil, Catappa oil, with 54% olein, pamitin, and 46 % stearin.
Bark contains tannin.
Leaves are sudorific, antihelminthic.
Bark and roots are astringent.
Phytochemical analysis yielded saponin, saponin glycosides, steroid, cardiac glycoside, tannins, volatile oils, phenols and balsam (gum).

Uses
Nutriton
Kernels are edible, with a sweet-acidic pericarp.
Folkloric
Red leaves are used to expel worms.
Fruit is said to be purgative.
Leaves mixed with oil are rubbed onto the breast to relieve mammary pain.
Bark is used for gastric ailments, bilious diarrhea and dysentery.
The sap of young leaves mixed with the kernel oil has been used for the treatment of leprosy.
Bark decoction has been used for the treatment of gonorrhea and stomach cramps.
Leaves are applied to rheumatic joints.
Juice of young leaves used for scabies and other cutaneous diseases, headaches and colic.
Leaves macerated in oil has been used for tonsilitis.
In Sri Lankan folklore, juice of tender leaves used for pains, including headaches.
In India, the bark is used as a diuretic and cardiotonic; leaves used for headache.
In Nigeria, leaves macerated in palm oil used for tonsilitis; stems and bark used for sexual dysfunction.
Seeds have been used for sexual dysfunction.
Others
Kernel contains a fixed oil, 51-63% called Indian Almond oil, oil of Badamier, or in the Philippines, as Talisay oil.

Studies
• Antioxidant / Hepatoprotective: Study of leaf extracts of TC and an isolated antioxidant, corilagin, was found to provide hepatoprotection in experimentally induced liver injury through suppression of oxidative stress and apoptosis.
• Antimicrobial:(1) Study of the methanolic extracts of leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Terminalia catappa showed inhibitory activity on B subtilis and S aureus. Phytochemical analysis yielded saponin, saponin glycosides, steroid, cardiac glycoside, tannins, volatile oils, phenols and balsam (gum).
• Antimetastatic: Study showed extract of TC leaves exerted an inhibitory effect on invasion and motility of highly metastatic lung carcinoma cells. It suggests TCE could be a potential antimetastatic agent.
• Antinociceptive: Study of the leaf extract of TC concludes that it is useful as an analgesic, supporting it folkloric use in Sri Lanka.
• Squalene / Antioxidant: Squalene was identified from the leaf extract of TC. The extract of leaves exhibited potent antioxidative and scavenging activities.
• Antidiabetic: (1) Study reports the leaf extracts exhibited significant blood glucose lowering in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. (2) Study of petroleum ether, methanol and aqueous extracts of T catappa all produced significant antidiabetic activity at dose levels 1/5 of their lethal doses. Histological studies of the pancreas earlier necrosed by alloxan showed regeneration by methanolic and aqueous extracts.
• Aphrodisiac: Reports of Terminalia catappa seeds showing aphrodisiac activities in male rates.
• Anti-inflammatory / Triterpenic Acids: Study of ethanolic extract of leaves yielded triterpenic acids responsible for the antiinflammatory activity of T catappa leaves.
• Antiparasitic / Antibacterial / Antifungal: Study looked into T catappa as an alternative to the use of chemicals and antibiotics in the aquaculture industry. Results showed eradication of Trichodina, fish ectoparasites, at 800 ppm. On going research is being done to isolate the active ingredients in the Indian almond for fish pathogen treatment.

Availability
Wild crafted.