Botany
Talisai is a large, deciduous tree, reaching a height of 20 to 25 meters, smooth or nearly so. Branches are horizontally whorled. Leaves are shiny, obovate, 10 to 25 centimeters long, tapering below 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 spikes in the axils of the leaves, 6 to 18 centimeters long. Fruit is smooth and ellipsoid, 3 to 6 centimeters long, and prominently bi-ridged or keeled down 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.
- Occurs in the Old World Tropics.
- Introduced to the New World.

Constituents
- Seed contains 51.2 percent fixed oil, Catappa oil, with 54% olein, pamitin, and 46 % stearin.
- Bark contains tannin.
- Phytochemical analysis yielded saponin, saponin glycosides, steroid, cardiac glycoside, tannins, volatile oils, phenols and balsam (gum).
- Physiochemical analysis of sun dried mesocarp of fruits revealed about 12.65% ash, 84.93% carbohydrate, 0.37% oil, 316 mg/g glucose, 0.1% protein, 1.30 mg/g tannin, 1.95% moisture, with 3434.5 kcal/kg calorific value.
- Seeds yield 4.13% moisture, 23.78% crude protein, 4.27% ash, 4.94% crude fiber, 51.80% fat, 16.02% carbohydrate and 548.78 Kcal calorific value.
- Classified in the oleic-linoleic acid group, oil contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic (up to 31.48%) and linoleic (up to 28.93%).

Properties
- Leaves are sudorific, antihelminthic.
- Bark and roots are astringent.
- Oil extracts exhibit good physiochemical properties and can be useful as edible oil and potential for industrial applications.

Uses
Edibility / Nutriton
- Kernels are edible, with a sweet-acidic pericarp.
- Seeds are a good source of minerals; in descending order: potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodiuym.
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: (1) 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. (2) TC leaf extract showed hepatoprotective effect against D-Galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced liver injury. There was dose-dependent inhibition of mitrochondrial swelling with dose-dependent superoxide radicals scavenging activity.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Topical application of ethanol and chloroform extracts of leaves in induced acute and chronic ear edema in mice showed reduced inflammation.
• 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.(3) Damage to pancreas in alloxan-treated diabetic control and regeneration of ß-cells by glibenclamide was observed. A comparable regeration was noted with aqueous and cold 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.
• Antibacterial / Ornamental Fish Culture: Study evaluated the concentration of tannin, an antimicrobial substance, in a water extract of leaves and its in vitro antibacterial activity against bacteria isolated from aquatic animals. Results indicated a potential for use as antibacterial alternative for ornamental fish culture.
• Oil / Biodiesel Potential: Study of castanhola in Brazil showed the oil obtained from the fruit kernels to yield around 49% (%mass). The fatty acid composition was similar to other conventional oils. Study of physiochemical properties of the TC biodiesel showed to be in acceptable range for use as in diesel engines.
• Livestock Feed / Biodiesel Potential: The mesocarp of T catappa contain major nutrients of carbohydrate, oil and metal ions (Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn) provide for biochemical activities required for livestock feed formulation.
• Anthelmintic: Study of TC leaves showed anthelmintic activity through inhibition of motility and survivability of larvae of T. colubriforis, C curticei and H. contortus.
• Antimicrobial: Study demonstrated antimicrobia activity, more pronounced against bacteria than fungal strains.

Availability
Wild crafted.