Erminalia arjuna (Combretaceae), commonly known as Arjuna, is an important deciduous tree extensively mentioned in Ayurvedic literature for its therapeutic potential, particularly in cardiovascular disorders. Traditionally, various parts of the plant, especially the bark, have been employed for the management of ailments such as angina, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, fractures, ulcers, and skin diseases. The present review aims to compile and critically analyze comprehensive information on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytoconstituents, and pharmacological activities of Terminalia arjuna. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was carried out using universally accepted electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with keywords “Arjuna” and “Terminalia arjuna.” In addition, data were extracted from Indian classical Ayurvedic texts, standard reference books, authentic pharmacopoeias, and published research articles. Information was also collected manually from relevant scientific sources. Results and Conclusion: The review highlights that Terminalia arjuna contains diverse bioactive compounds such as triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and tannins, which are responsible for its wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies confirm its cardioprotective, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. Despite the traditional emphasis on cardiovascular benefits, emerging research indicates its potential in managing metabolic, hepatic, renal, and degenerative disorders. However, most findings are limited to preclinical models, and more well-designed clinical trials are needed to establish its efficacy and safety. The collected data provide a scientific basis for its traditional claims and indicate a promising scope for future investigations and the development of novel Ayurvedic formulations based on Terminalia arjuna.

Introduction:

Arjun is a well-known drug, especially known for its Prabhav ‘Hrudya’. It has an action on the heart. It has been described by Bhav Prakash, Raj Nighantu, Madanpal Nighantu, and many ayurvedic texts. Arjuna is a main character in the Hindu mythology Mahabharata, which means ‘Bright’, ' shining’, ‘white’ in Sanskrit. He was known for his archery skills and role as one of the five Pandavas brothers. It can also be interpreted as ‘ the one who is not unvictorious’. So, Arjuna's name shows the power and strength, as in this Dravya. This Dravya is also said to have many properties, and acts on one of the most important vital structures of the body, is Here which is called its Prabhav Hridya. All the synonyms of the arjuna have been given to this Dravya.

Vernacular names-[1]

Sanskrit- Arjuna, Kakubh

Hindi- Arjuna, Koh, Kohu

Bengali- Arjun Ganchha

Marathi- Arjun Sadada, Shaal Dhol

Gujrati- Aansodaro

Telugu- Telmaddi

English- Arjun

Synonyms given in different ayurvedic classical texts- Nadisarja, Kakubh, Indradu, Veervruksha, Veer, Dhawal, Shambar, Parth, Chitrayodhi, Dhananjaya, Vairantaka, Kiriti, Gandavi, Shivmallak, Savyasachi, Karnari, Kuruveerak, Indrasunu, Veerada, Krishnasarathi, Prithaj, Falguna, Dhanvi. [1-3]

Terminalia arjuna: Nadisarja (It grows mostly on the river side.)

Botanical classification –

• Kingdom - Plantae
• Division- Angiosperms
• Class - Dicotyledons
• Sub Class - Polypetalous
• Order - Myrtales
• Family - Combretaceae (Indian Almond Family)
• Genus- Terminalia
• Species - Arjuna

Cultivation and collection:

Terminalia arjuna Arjuna is found as a naturally growing plant in the dense forest side area. It is very common in Madhya Pradesh, Dehradun, and Uttarakhand. Arjuna can be successfully raised by sowing seeds or by means of stumps. The seeds take time of about 21 days for germination. It needs moist, fertile alluvial loam with rainfall in the range of 75-190 cm. It grows satisfactorily up to 450 °C. The bark is collected from wild-growing plants.[4]

Habitat- The Arjuna tree is about 60-80 feet in height, and it is seen along rivers, streams, and water bodies. It is found mostly at the Indo-sub-Himalayan tracts of Uttar Pradesh, southern Bihar, Chhota Nagpur, Burma, Mumbai, Madras, Madhya Pradesh, and the Deccan region.[5]

Botanical description-

The generic name Terminalia comes from the Latin word ‘terminus’ or ‘terminalis’ (ending), and refers to the habit of the leaves being crowded or borne on the tips of the shoots. Arjuna is a 60–68-foot tree. The bark is smooth, grey, and whitish in color from the outside, and pinkish in color from the inside. The bark exfoliates in thin, irregular sheets. Leaves simple, opposite to sub-opposite, 5–25 × 4–10 cm, oblong or elliptic oblong, glabrous, hard, often inequilateral, apex obtuse or sub-acute, base rounded or sometimes cordate. The petiole is short (2-4 cm long), sericeous, with 2 (or 1) prominent glands at the petiole apex. Inflorescences are short axillary spikes, 9-12 cm long, with 2.5-6 cm long branches. Flowers are small, cup-shaped, regular, sessile, polygamous, white, creamy or greenish-white, and strongly have a honey-like smell. Fruit 2.5-5 x 1.8-2.8 cm long, obovoid-oblong, dark brown to reddish brown fibrous woody, indehiscent drupe, glabrous with 5-7 equal, thick, narrow, stiff wings and striated with numerous upwards-curved veins.[6]

Terminalia arjuna: Leaf front and back side.

Chemical constituents- [7]

Traditional uses-

Due to Kashaya rasa and Sheeta virya, it pacifies the kapha and pitta dosha and increases the vata dosha.[1]

Hridya karma-

It is used in more specifically pittaja and kaphaja hridroga. It gives bala or power to hridya as it gives strength to cardiac muscles for contraction and relaxation, but it is contraindicated in conditions like stambha and jadyata (stiffness).

During the Jwara condition, due to Santapa, the sadhaka pitta of hridya gets aggravated, and because of this, oja Kshaya may lead to a pathological condition at hridya. In such a condition. The bark of arjuna can be used with milk and sugar (ksheer sidhha).

As arjuna contains Kashaya and ruksha guna, it can be used in kaphaja hridroga. A leha Kalpana can be prepared with arjuna kwatha, trikatu, trivritta churna, and used in kaphaja hridroga condition.

Raktapitta-

By Kashaya and Ruksha Guna, Arjuna does the stambhan karma of rakta. So, arjuna can be used in raktapitta condition, more specifically in conditions like urdhaga raktapitta (bleeding from nose, ear, and upper orifices), Urkshata (hemoptysis), etc.

As Arjuna is also said to be used in kshata(trauma) conditions. So, in the body, when bleeding is happening due to any trauma or injury, Arjuna can be used in such conditions.

Bhagna-

In conditions like asthi-bhagna, sandhi bhagna arjuna tawaka with ksheer (milk) can be used.

Vrana-

Arjuna bark decoction kwatha can be used in vrana-dhawana.

Prameha- Arjuna desiccates the extra kleda of the body. Hence, it establishes the sara in meda dhatu and can be used in prameha conditions.

Pharmacology activity-

Pharmacological activities have been studied by many studies-

Arjuna has been said to as cardioprotective. The cardioprotective action seen in such ways-

1. Anti-atherosclerotic

Atherosclerosis is a condition of inflammatory vascular disease due to the deposition of cholesterol in the arterial wall. Atherosclerosis is a dangerous condition, as it is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases. In atherosclerosis condition, plaque formation takes place, which blocks the blood stream, and further it leads to a reduced supply of blood to the heart. The stimulation and differentiation of monocytes in the  bloodstream are mainly responsible for plaque formation, which is followed by low-density lipoprotein uptake by macrophages to form the foam cells. The study shows that the different ethanolic derivatives of TA demonstrate the presence of tannins, phenolics, saponins, triterpenoids, anthraquinone glycosides, flavonoids, and alkaloids and show the anti-hyperlipidemic activity through its anion exchange property.  By this anion exchange property, the anions of phytochemicals of plants bind with the bile acids anions in the intestine and convert cholesterol into bile acid, which is then excreted in stool and leads to a decrease in the serum LDL cholesterol level.[8] The chemical compounds such as Arjunic and Arjunoglycoside (I, II, III, and IV) undergo a drug-metabolizing cascade, which forms some active molecules, and are responsible for lipid-lowering activity.[9] Arjunic acid and Arjunoglycoside (I, II, III, and IV) undergo a drug-metabolizing cascade, produce some active molecules, and are responsible for lipid-lowering activity.[9] The cardio-protection is studied using the gemmo-modified (plants at growing stage) extract and the methanolic extract of the TA bark has been used. The HPLC analysis of the extracts revealed that bark contains a higher concentration of flavanols (quercetin, and kaempferol, and myricetin), flavanol (catechin), and phenolic acid (gallic acid,P. ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid). The mechanisms behind TAs cardiac protection properties can be explained as follows-

1. Flavonoids present in the plant reverse endothelial dysfunction and increase the vasorelaxation process and reduce the arterial pressure.

2. The flavonoids also scavenge the free radical species through scavenger receptors and also help in the uptake and elimination of oxidized modified low-density lipoprotein (OM-LDL) (OM-LDL is a chemically modified LDL that results in endothelial injury , which causes atherosclerotic plaque formation. [10] Hence, by decreasing the LDL and VDRL level extract of arjuna shows the anti-atherosclerosis activity.

1. Anti- diabetic

In a molecular docking study, conducted in silico, the DPP-IV Inhibitory activity of Terminalia arjuna was found to be comparable to Vildagliptin.

DPP-IV is an enzyme that regulates the blood sugar level by breaking down incretin hormones like GLP-1(Glucagon-like Peptide-1) and GIP ( Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide).

DPP-IV inhibitors drug like Vildagliptin binds covalently with the enzymes.

They inhibit enzymes DPP-IV → prevent inactivation of GLP-1 → increase plasma concentration of GLP-1 → increase insulin secretion, suppress glucagon release.[11]

The DPP-IV Inhibitory activity can also have significant cardioprotective effects by preventing diabetes. The active ingredients of Terminalia arjuna, Arjunetin, Arjungenin, Ellagic acid, and Arjunic acid showed superior DPP-IV Inhibitory activity as compared to synthetic DPP-IV inhibitors (Sitagliptin and Vildagliptin) based on results of docking studies.[12]

1. DNA Protection-

Terminalia Arjuna's bark extract has been found to safeguard DNA against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage, highlighting its antioxidant properties. Terminalia Arjuna's compound has been found to protect DNA from toxic damage. Studies show that pre-treating cells with Arjuna bark extract before exposure to the chemotherapy drug Adriamycin significantly reduces DNA damage, as demonstrated by fewer micronuclei formations. This protective effect safeguards DNA integrity against harmful toxins.[13]

1. Anti-cancer -

Terminalia arjuna extracts have been found to exhibit anticancer effects against multiple cancer types (detailed in the Table 4). Additionally, these herbal extracts have been shown to extend the lifespan of experimental animals.[14]

1. Wound Healing activity:

The bark of Terminalia Arjuna has been revered for its healing properties. Research confirms its accelerated wound healing, enhanced tissue regeneration, and effective muscle and bone repair. Studies demonstrate that hydroalcoholic bark extract promotes complete epithelialization in rat dermal wounds. Tannins and saponins outperform in wound healing; triterpenoids aid bone and muscle tissue regeneration in frogs.[15]

1. Anti-osteoporotic effect-

    Terminalia arjuna contains minerals,  especially Calcium, in abundant form.Study shows that extracts of Terminalia arjuna show the anti-osteoporosis effect in given following ways-

1)Increased the calcium and phosphate metabolism for bones.

2) Extract of Terminalia arjuna was found to help in the biomineralization of bones; it showed potential influence on cell differentiation and cell viability of bones.[16]

1. Anti-bacterial -

Study showed that the tested T. Arjuna extracts (in any of the tested preparation-acetone, ethanol, or methanol) have shown good activity against both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative of ear pathogens, the inhibition being higher in Gram-positive bacteria than the Gram Gram-negative bacteria. The organic extracts of T. arjuna leaves possessed good activity against the four bacterial ear pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Acinetobacter sp. The antibacterial activity exhibited byT. Arjuna leaves and bark extracts against the bacterial ear pathogens might be due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as arjunic acid, arjunetin,  arjungenin, , and luteolin, which have been reported to be antimicrobial in nature.[17]

Arjuna as ksheerpaka-

In classical literature, Arjuna is said to be used in the form of Ksheerpaka Kalpana. Arjuna has the ruksha guna in abundant form; to balance it, ksheer(milk) has been used. Ksheera Paka is a type of pharmaceutical preparation, where cow’s milk is used as the basic ingredient or medium, because milk might enhance the attributes of the drugs added into it. Meaning milk being a colloidal solution, is an excellent medium that can retain the useful attributes of the drugs added to it. Because of the presence of both polar and nonpolar solvent, which is, water and lipid, all the active constituents, to polarity gets extracted in milk. The main objective of this Kalpana is that it can reduce the Teekshnata of the drugs added to it, at the same time it can provide the same therapeutic effects due to the Samskarita with Ksheera, thereby highly useful In those conditions where milk products cannot be prescribed directly. By increasing the temperature of milk, the solubility of fat and protein also gets increased, which enhances the extraction of medicinally important active constituents and later it can be easily absorbed through the body membrane.[18]

Discussion:

The review of Terminalia arjuna consolidates its extensive description in Ayurveda and modern pharmacology. Traditionally, it is primarily known for its Prabhava “Hrudya” (cardioprotective action), corroborated in classical texts like Bhavprakash Nighantu and Raj Nighantu. Modern research validates these claims, with numerous studies demonstrating cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antihyperlipidemic, and vasorelaxant properties. This convergence of classical knowledge and experimental validation strengthens the therapeutic importance of T. arjuna in cardiovascular health. Beyond its cardiotonic role, emerging pharmacological investigations highlight its multifunctional therapeutic potential. Anti-diabetic activity through DPP-IV inhibition, DNA protective effects, wound-healing acceleration, and anti-osteoporotic activity reflect its systemic applicability. The presence of bioactive constituents such as triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and minerals provides a pharmacological rationale for these diverse effects. Especially noteworthy is its antioxidant capacity, which underlies many of its protective actions on cardiac, metabolic, and degenerative disorders.

In Ayurveda, Arjuna has been employed not only as a standalone drug but also in formulations like Arjuna Ksheerpaka, where milk serves as a medium to balance its Ruksha Guna and enhance bioavailability. This traditional pharmaceutical wisdom merits further exploration using modern pharmacokinetic and molecular approaches, which could reveal mechanisms of drug–milk interactions and justify its therapeutic superiority. However, despite rich ethnomedicinal heritage and promising preclinical data, clinical evidence remains limited. Most studies are confined to animal models or in vitro systems. Few controlled clinical trials exist, and those available often suffer from small sample sizes and methodological variations. Moreover, while cardioprotective effects are well established, systematic studies on its role in cancer, osteoporosis, infections, and diabetes are still in preliminary stages.

Thus, there is a clear need for:

• Standardization of extracts and formulations of T. arjuna.
• Rigorous clinical trials with larger cohorts to evaluate safety, efficacy, and dosage.
• Molecular-level studies to explore unexplored pharmacological targets.
• Integrating Ayurvedic concepts (Hrudya Karma, Rasayana, Stambhana) with modern pharmacological frameworks to create holistic therapeutic protocols.

In summary, Terminalia arjuna represents a prime example where classical Ayurvedic wisdom aligns with modern scientific validation, but more translational research is essential to fully harness its therapeutic potential and to position it as a globally accepted natural cardioprotective and multi-system drug.

Conclusion:

Terminalia arjuna has remarkable activities, and it is an important medicinal plant. Thus, the review of literature shows traditional uses especially its prabhav hrudya karma and its pharmacological activities like cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-osteoporotic, Anti-cancerous, DNA protective, and wound healing activity.

Further scope of study-

The more investigation of the chemical constitution will be helpful for its more elaboration of hrudya (cardioprotective activity), also beyond than this, Ksheerpaka Kalpana study at the molecular activity can be done.

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