Ethnopharmacological review of arjuna

Abstract

The use of herbal medicines alone or in combination is increasing in human health care. Medicinal plants may be an important source of previously unknown chemicals with potential therapeutic effects. Terminalia arjuna bark is commonly known as Arjuna or Arjun bark and is abundant throughout India. This plant contains 15% tannins, triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, calcium, aluminium and magnesium salts as well as colorants and sugars which are other components of Arjun. The Terminalia arjuna plant has many therapeutic properties and is capable of treating many ailments, especially heart and circulatory system diseases. This plant is an excellent means of lipid-lowering, anticoagulant, antihypertensive, antiviral, antithrombotic, antifungal and antibacterial. The plant's therapeutic properties related to heart health are due to the triterpenoids enclosed by the arjuna plant. Likewise, the flavonoids and tannins naturally present in this herb have anti-cancer properties. This review provides a key overview of the therapeutic profile, traditional uses, phytochemistry and across different plant parts.