Terminalia Arjuna

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) is a tree that has its bark used medicinally, usually for the purposes of cardioprotection. It appears to reduce pressure and pulse rate, and may increase aerobic exercise capacity.

Terminalia Arjuna is most often used for

Summary

Terminalia Arjuna (usually simply referred to as Arjuna) is a tree bark that is used medicinally in Ayurveda for the purposes of cardiovascular health pertaining to the heart itself. It has a large variety of bioactives, with the water extract showing promise at improving left ventricle function of the heart without any observable toxicity of side effects when taken at 500mg thrice a day (every 8 hours).

There are numerous human studies conducted on Arjuna bark, although many of them are low in sample size. Nevertheless, the water extract appears to be effective in improving cardiac function in persons who have recently undergone cardiac trauma or injury; Myocardial Infarction is the most commonly researched ailment in this regard. Only one study exists on otherwise healthy persons, but Arjuna showed benefit in improving left ventricle function in an exercise test and the benefits may affect a person regardless of health state.

In animal models, this extract appears to exert protection on cardiac tissue in response to various cardiac insults including beta(2)adrenergic agonists (like ephedrine, although isoproterenol was used in the studies) and catecholamines themselves.

The water extract appears to be effective for improving cardiovascular health, particularly at the level of left ventricle function. The studies in humans are underpowered at this moment in time and only one in healthy humans (preliminary evidence), but all evidence appears to be promising and in the same positive direction. The water extract appears to be quite safe

Other extracts such as ethanolic or acetone, with different bioactives, may not have similar cardioprotective effects (no human trials, but some in vitro evidence suggesting the bioactives are not in these extracts) yet appear to be somewhat cancer protective. Tumor growth in animal models is reduced with either the ethanolic extract or isolated Arjunolic Acid (commonly seen as the main bioactive) as is reduced DNA damage in response to mutagens, and these are attributed to the antioxidative capacity of Arjuna which is comparable to Vitamin C on a per weight basis. Due to the anti-cancer effects of the ethanolic extract having some cytotoxic properties, and LD50 has actually been established with this extract and it is possible that side-effects may occur. Additionally, the anti-cancer evidence is somewhat limited as although cytotoxicity has been established in cancer cells a lack of evidence exists to assess healthy cells (a good anti-cancer drug will be highly selective in killing cancer cells, which Arjuna does, and not healthy cells, which Arjuna has not been sufficiently tested for).

Other possible uses of Arjuna include ulcer protection in the stomach with potency similar to Rantidine in one study (associated with the ethanolic extract), protection to the liver and kidney likely mediated by antioxidative properties (ethanolic extract) and the cardiovascular properties may increase anaerobic cardiovascular performance in healthy persons (with the one study using sprinting as a test) although this last claim has a lone study in support of it and no replication.

Ethanolic extracts have potent antioxidative and potentially potent anticancer effects, but although there are no reported side effects with the ethanolic extracts currently (due to a lack of human interventions) it is theoretically plausible that higher than recommended doses could be harmful related to the anticancer effects (cytotoxicity)

What else is Terminalia Arjuna known as?
Note that Terminalia Arjuna is also known as:
  • Arjuna
  • Dhavala
  • Kakubha
  • Nadisarja
  • Veeravriksha
  • Partha
  • Indradru
Dosage information

A standard dose for the purposes of cardiac health appears to be 500mg of the bark (water extract) taken daily in the morning without food (no evidence exists to suggest that taking it with food is bad or anything). For persons who suffered cardiac trauma (such as Myocardial Infarction), this dose tends to be taken thrice a day every 8 hours

The leaf extracts and ethanolic extracts appear to be more related to the cytotoxic and anti-tumor effects, but not enough evidence exists to recommend an active dose of these extracts for human consumption.

Join our supplement information course

Examine Database: Terminalia Arjuna
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
1.^Raj CD, Shabi MM, Jipnomon J, Dhevi R, Gayathri K, Subashini U, Rajamanickam GVTerminalia arjuna's antioxidant effect in isolated perfused kidneyRes Pharm Sci.(2012 Jul)
3.^Mahmood ZA, Sualeh M, Mahmood SB, Karim MAHerbal treatment for cardiovascular disease the evidence based therapyPak J Pharm Sci.(2010 Jan)
5.^Miller ALBotanical influences on cardiovascular diseaseAltern Med Rev.(1998 Dec)
6.^Scassellati-Sforzolini G, Villarini LM, Moretti LM, Marcarelli LM, Pasquini R, Fatigoni C, Kaur LS, Kumar S, Grover ISAntigenotoxic properties of Terminalia arjuna bark extractsJ Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol.(1999)
9.^Biswas M, Bhattacharya S, Ghosh AK, Kumar RB, Bera S, Gupta M, Haldar PKAntitumour activity of Terminalia arjuna leaf against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in miceNat Prod Res.(2012)
10.^[No authors listedTerminalia arjunaAltern Med Rev.(1999 Dec)
12.^Saxena M, Faridi U, Mishra R, Gupta MM, Darokar MP, Srivastava SK, Singh D, Luqman S, Khanuja SPCytotoxic agents from Terminalia arjunaPlanta Med.(2007 Nov)
14.^Wang W, Ali Z, Li XC, Shen Y, Khan IA18,19-secooleanane type triterpene glycosyl esters from the bark of Terminalia arjunaPlanta Med.(2010 Jun)
15.^Upadhyay RK, Pandey MB, Jha RN, Singh VP, Pandey VBTriterpene glycoside from Terminalia arjunaJ Asian Nat Prod Res.(2001)
16.^Wang W, Ali Z, Li XC, Shen Y, Khan IATriterpenoids from two Terminalia speciesPlanta Med.(2010 Oct)
18.^Alam MS, Kaur G, Ali A, Hamid H, Ali M, Athar MTwo new bioactive oleanane triterpene glycosides from Terminalia arjunaNat Prod Res.(2008)
19.^Ali A, Kaur G, Hamid H, Abdullah T, Ali M, Niwa M, Alam MSTerminoside A, a new triterpene glycoside from the bark of Terminalia arjuna inhibits nitric oxide production in murine macrophagesJ Asian Nat Prod Res.(2003 Jun)
20.^Singh B, Singh VP, Pandey VB, Rücker GA new triterpene glycoside from Terminalia arjunaPlanta Med.(1995 Dec)
21.^Dwivedi S, Aggarwal AIndigenous drugs in ischemic heart disease in patients with diabetesJ Altern Complement Med.(2009 Nov)
22.^Yadav RN, Rathore KA new cardenolide from the roots of Terminalia arjunaFitoterapia.(2001 May)
23.^Yadava RN, Rathore KA new cardenolide from the seeds of Terminalia arjuna (W&A)J Asian Nat Prod Res.(2000)
24.^Wang W, Ali Z, Shen Y, Li XC, Khan IAUrsane triterpenoids from the bark of Terminalia arjunaFitoterapia.(2010 Sep)
27.^Kandil FE, Nassar MIA tannin anti-cancer promotor from Terminalia arjunaPhytochemistry.(1998 Apr)
29.^Khaliq F, Parveen A, Singh S, Hussain ME, Fahim MTerminalia arjuna Improves Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic RatsCardiovasc Toxicol.(2013 Mar)
30.^Dall'Ago P, Fernandes TG, Machado UF, Belló AA, Irigoyen MCBaroreflex and chemoreflex dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic ratsBraz J Med Biol Res.(1997 Jan)
31.^Parveen A, Babbar R, Agarwal S, Kotwani A, Fahim MTerminalia arjuna enhances baroreflex sensitivity and myocardial function in isoproterenol-induced chronic heart failure ratsJ Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther.(2012 Jun)
33.^Kumar S, Enjamoori R, Jaiswal A, Ray R, Seth S, Maulik SKCatecholamine-induced myocardial fibrosis and oxidative stress is attenuated by Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.)J Pharm Pharmacol.(2009 Nov)
35.^Singh G, Singh AT, Abraham A, Bhat B, Mukherjee A, Verma R, Agarwal SK, Jha S, Mukherjee R, Burman ACProtective effects of Terminalia arjuna against Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicityJ Ethnopharmacol.(2008 Apr 17)
39.^Dwivedi S, Jauhari RBeneficial effects of Terminalia arjuna in coronary artery diseaseIndian Heart J.(1997 Sep-Oct)
42.^Dwivedi S, Aggarwal A, Agarwal MP, Rajpal SRole of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitationInt J Cardiol.(2005 Apr 28)
43.^Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KDSalutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInt J Cardiol.(1995 May)
46.^Subramaniam S, Subramaniam R, Rajapandian S, Uthrapathi S, Gnanamanickam VR, Dubey GPAnti-Atherogenic Activity of Ethanolic Fraction of Terminalia arjuna Bark on Hypercholesterolemic RabbitsEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2011)
47.^Subramaniam S, Ramachandran S, Uthrapathi S, Gnamanickam VR, Dubey GPAnti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential of different fractions of Terminalia arjuna Roxb. bark against PX- 407 induced hyperlipidemiaIndian J Exp Biol.(2011 Apr)
48.^Johnston TP, Palmer WKMechanism of poloxamer 407-induced hypertriglyceridemia in the ratBiochem Pharmacol.(1993 Sep 14)
49.^Chander R, Singh K, Khanna AK, Kaul SM, Puri A, Saxena R, Bhatia G, Rizvi F, Rastogi AKAntidyslipidemic and antioxidant activities of different fractions ofTerminalia arjuna stem barkIndian J Clin Biochem.(2004 Jul)
50.^Bharani A, Ahirwar LK, Jain NTerminalia arjuna reverses impaired endothelial function in chronic smokersIndian Heart J.(2004 Mar-Apr)
52.^Biswas M, Kar B, Bhattacharya S, Kumar RB, Ghosh AK, Haldar PKAntihyperglycemic activity and antioxidant role of Terminalia arjuna leaf in streptozotocin-induced diabetic ratsPharm Biol.(2011 Apr)
55.^Watanabe H, Ma M, Washizuka T, Komura S, Yoshida T, Hosaka Y, Hatada K, Chinushi M, Yamamoto T, Watanabe K, Aizawa YThyroid hormone regulates mRNA expression and currents of ion channels in rat atriumBiochem Biophys Res Commun.(2003 Aug 29)
56.^Donatelli M, Assennato P, Abbadi V, Bucalo ML, Compagno V, Lo Vecchio S, Messina L, Russo V, Schembri A, Torregrossa V, Licata GCardiac changes in subclinical and overt hyperthyroid women: retrospective studyInt J Cardiol.(2003 Aug)
58.^Devi RS, Narayan S, Vani G, Srinivasan P, Mohan KV, Sabitha KE, Devi CSUlcer protective effect of Terminalia arjuna on gastric mucosal defensive mechanism in experimental ratsPhytother Res.(2007 Aug)
59.^Devi RS, Narayan S, Vani G, Shyamala Devi CSGastroprotective effect of Terminalia arjuna bark on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcerChem Biol Interact.(2007 Apr 5)
65.^Chen CH, Liu TZ, Kuo TC, Lu FJ, Chen YC, Chang-Chien YW, Lin CCCasuarinin protects cultured MDCK cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and DNA oxidative damagePlanta Med.(2004 Nov)
69.^Sun FY, Chen XP, Wang JH, Qin HL, Yang SR, Du GHArjunic acid, a strong free radical scavenger from Terminalia arjunaAm J Chin Med.(2008)
70.^Reddy TK, Seshadri P, Reddy KK, Jagetia GC, Reddy CDEffect of Terminalia arjuna extract on adriamycin-induced DNA damagePhytother Res.(2008 Sep)
72.^Manna P, Sinha M, Pal P, Sil PCArjunolic acid, a triterpenoid saponin, ameliorates arsenic-induced cyto-toxicity in hepatocytesChem Biol Interact.(2007 Dec 15)
73.^Kaur K, Arora S, Kumar S, Nagpal AAntimutagenic activities of acetone and methanol fractions of Terminalia arjunaFood Chem Toxicol.(2002 Oct)
77.^Ramesh AS, Christopher JG, Radhika R, Setty CR, Thankamani VIsolation, characterisation and cytotoxicity study of arjunolic acid from Terminalia arjunaNat Prod Res.(2012)
82.^Sivalokanathan S, Vijayababu MR, Balasubramanian MPEffects of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2World J Gastroenterol.(2006 Feb 21)
84.^Sivalokanathan S, Ilayaraja M, Balasubramanian MPEfficacy of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) on N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in ratsIndian J Exp Biol.(2005 Mar)