Arjun (Terminalia arjuna)

Monograph

Arjun
(Terminalia arjuna)
Part Used: Stem bark
Habitat:
The tree grows throughout the greater part of the Indian subcontinent,
Burma and Sri Lanka. It is particularly found in the sub-Himalayan tracts.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 2010, 11, 000-000

Introduction:
In the Rigveda, the word Arjuna is used (R.V.1/122/5) for the first time. Both
Carakacharya and Sushrutacharya have mentioned this plant in their
Samhitas, but have not indicated its use for heart diseases. It was
Vagbhattacharya who for the first time mentioned the use of Arjuna in the
treatment of heart diseases and the same was endorsed by Cakradattam and
Bhavamisram. Ayurveda recommends different formulation of the bark
powder of arjuna.

J. Preventive Cardiology n Vol. 3 n No. 1 n Aug 2013

Mechanism of Action:
The saponin glycosides might be responsible for the inotropic effects of
Terminalia, while the flavonoids and OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins)
provide free radical antioxidant activity and vascular strengthening or
strengthening the circulatory system.
Alternative Medicine Review Volume 3, Number 6 1998

Medicinal Uses:

Various preclinical and clinical studies have been done on arjuna to prove its
medicinal benefits. It is useful in angina pectoris, mild hypertension,
dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, blood thinning, as a diuretic and protecting
cardiovascular disease or other diseases of heart.
Lipid Lowering Effect Studies suggest that arjuna reduces blood lipids.
The inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis, increased fecal bile acid
excretion, and stimulation of receptor-mediated catabolism of LDL
cholesterol are responsible for arjunas lipid lowering effects.
Alternative Medicine Review Monographs, Page 413

Cardioprotective Effect - The antioxidant effect of the bark of T. arjuna

augments endogenous cardiac antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase
(SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). This offers significant
protection against oxidative stress from tissue dysfunction or death in the
heart (ischemic-repurfusion injury) caused when the blood supply to an area
of tissue is cut off. The antioxidant effect also provides protection against
endothelium dysfunction which is the pathological condition (cause) for
atherosclerosis.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 2010, 11, 000-000

Clinical Studies:
Few clinical studies related to Coronary Artery Disease are mentioned below :
Coronary Artery Disease
1. According to a clinical study published in the journal of Physicians
association of India, 2001, Terminalia arjuna tree bark powder has
significant antioxidant action that is comparable to vitamin E. In addition, it
also has a significant hypocholesterolemic effect.
J Assoc Physicians India. 2001 Feb;49:231-5.

2. Another clinical trial published in the journal of Indian Journal of

Heart, 2004, the Terminalia arjuna therapy for two weeks leads to
significant regression of endothelial dysfunction amongst smokers.
Indian Heart J. 2004 Mar-Apr;56(2):123-8.

Conclusion:
T. arjuna has been extensively studied by the scientists for its medicinal
benefits especially related to the heart. According to the ancient and
scientific literatures, arjuna can be used to lower the cholesterol levels and
prevent coronary heart disease.