Arjuna - Terminalia arjuna

Common Names: Arjuna, Arjun tree, Terminalia arjuna, Marudha Maram, Indian Almond, Indian Laurel, Amandier Indien, Amandier Tropical, Axjun Argun, Badamier, Baheda, Terminalia bellirica, Chebulic Myrobalan, Tropical Almond, Vibhitaki, He Zi, Hara, Bhibitaki, Behada, Balera, Harada, Karshaphala, Arjan des Indes, Bibitaki, Carambole Marron, Kalidruma

Latin Name: Terminalia arjuna

Origin: Asia

Short Introduction

Terminalia arjuna is naturally found along dry riverbeds and riverbanks and seasonally at the edges of dried stream beds in lowland regions. The tree is a common part of the dry tropical forests along rivers and is sometimes present in both dry and moist deciduous forests. When cultivated, it is important to keep the optimal elevation below 1200 meters above sea level. Ideal annual rainfall for Arjuna ranges from 750 to 1900 mm, with ambient temperatures between 20-30°C. The tree thrives in rich, neutral soil with a pH of 6.5-7.0, optimally as loose, moist clay with adequate water supply and regular watering.

The tree can grow in direct sun, though it prefers partial shade. It is commonly used in coffee plantations, providing optimal shade for coffee plants. In India, Arjuna is valued not only as an ornamental tree with significant cultural and religious meaning, but also when planted along rivers and streams, where it is believed to purify its surroundings and restore the ecosystem’s balance. The mature fruits are harvested directly from the tree or collected from the ground. They are typically dried at optimal temperatures for about a month, after which the fibrous part is separated from the endocarp by hand to obtain seeds. If stored properly—in a cool, dry, and dark place inside pouches or glass jars—the seeds remain viable for up to a year.

Detailed Description

Arjuna is a legendary cardiotonic herb in India, whose cardiovascular benefits are now recognized by modern Western medicine.

Botanical Information

Arjuna is a morphologically distinct tree that can grow up to 25 meters tall. The trunk is robust and forms wide archways from which down-facing branches extend. Leaves are green on the upper surface and brown beneath, conical, and elongated. The tree’s bark is smooth and gray. Its pale yellow flowers appear from March to June. The fruit is a hairless, fibrous, woody drupe, up to 5 cm in diameter, divided into five separate sections. Arjuna bears fruit between September and October.

Origin and Distribution

Arjuna is native to southern and central India and continues to grow abundantly there, especially near rivers, stream banks, or in dry riverbeds in West Bengal. Its natural range is limited to this region, with little information available about its wider distribution across Asia or the world.

Usage / Dosage

Arjuna was first used for medicinal purposes in Ayurveda as early as the 7th century BCE for heart disease. Indian medicine traditionally uses an infusion in milk for therapeutic benefits. Healers such as Hridayam mention internal use of Arjuna bark for wounds, severe internal bleeding, heart failure, and ulcers, and topically as powder or dust for wound care. According to Buddhist tradition, the Arjuna tree was instrumental for many bodhisattvas in reaching enlightenment.

Folk medicine emphasizes Terminalia arjuna’s powerful antioxidant properties for combating inflammation. Indian herbal practitioners recommend Arjuna, either alone or in blends (including a popular caffeine-free Arjuna coffee), to support heart health and reduce cardiac problems. When used regularly with proper dietary and lifestyle adjustments, Arjuna can improve heart muscle function and overall cardiac output.

Historically, Arjuna has been used to balance the three Ayurvedic doshas—kapha, vata, and pitta. Imbalances, according to traditional Indian medicine, manifest as asthma, gall bladder issues, scorpion stings, or poisoning. However, for nearly 3,000 years, Arjuna bark has been used most importantly as a remedy for the heart. While the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, Arjuna bark was the first-line herbal remedy for heart issues in India up through the 1930s and continues to be widely used.

In its native areas, people regularly use Arjuna bark for heart and circulatory problems—including symptoms associated with angina pectoris, chest pain, strong palpitations, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. It is also used as a diuretic and detoxifying agent for dysentery, sexually transmitted infections, urinary and excretory tract problems, and cases of reduced sexual desire. In eastern India, Arjuna is employed for both diarrhea and constipation, as well as for digestive disorders in general. Increasingly, it is also recommended for liver protection, for treating coughs, sore throats, and other respiratory conditions.

Clinical studies now focus on Arjuna bark’s potential in various cardiac diseases. Positive outcomes have been reported when the bark is used regularly in conjunction with standard medical treatment for at least three months in people (50% of those tested) who had suffered from angina pectoris after myocardial infarction. There was a notable reduction in the frequency and severity of angina attacks and improved exercise tolerance in both stable and (to a lesser degree) unstable angina.

Evidence also suggests that patients with advanced heart failure (NYHA IV) who received optimal medical therapy plus 500 mg Arjuna bark extract every 8 hours for 14 days showed improved symptoms of congestive heart failure. When compared to placebo controls, these patients experienced significantly reduced swelling, edema, fatigue, breathlessness, and higher physical tolerance. Stroke volume and left ventricular ejection fraction also increased. Intriguingly, after four months of combined treatment, many patients were reclassified into NYHA II or III from more severe stages.

The flavonoids and tannins present show exceptional antioxidant activity, which ultimately helps reduce swelling, mildly suppress inflammation, and strengthen vessel walls, thereby supporting cardiovascular health. Triterpene saponins and their glycosidic derivatives may produce a positive inotropic effect by stimulation of certain nerves, resulting in improved contractility and excitability, and thus supporting the heart’s pumping action.

A recent study of post-myocardial infarction patients and a small group with ischemic cardiomyopathy showed that taking 500 mg of Arjuna bark every 8 hours over three months, alongside standard treatments, significantly reduced angina episodes and improved left ventricular ejection fraction, enabling the heart to pump more blood throughout the body. All the cardiomyopathy patients improved from NYHA III to NYHA I classification.

For hyperlipidemia, only animal studies are currently available, showing that Terminalia arjuna likely reduces plasma lipid levels. Rabbits given 100–500 mg/kg of Arjuna bark showed a dose-dependent reduction in LDL cholesterol. Similarly, rats fed pure cholesterol and cholesterol with Arjuna bark extract for 30 days exhibited a reduced rise in plasma cholesterol in the group receiving the extract. While ongoing research continues, both European and American health authorities permit and promote the claim that Arjuna bark "contributes to cardiovascular health".

Active Compounds

Arjuna contains triterpene saponins, among which are arjunolic acid, arjunol, various arjunglycoside derivatives, and arjungenin, along with flavonoids such as arjunone, luteolin, and arjunolone. Among the tannins are ellagic and gallic acids, as well as phytosterols and minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. Notable compounds also include gluconic acid, proanthocyanidins, and coenzyme Q10.

Traditional Dosage

The optimal maintenance dose for long-term therapy in adults ranges from 1 to 3 grams of dried Arjuna bark daily, with individual doses of at least 500 mg of pure extract 3–4 times daily. For angina pectoris and related cardiovascular disorders, standard herbal therapy in combination with standard medication recommends 500 mg of Arjuna bark extract every 6 to 8 hours.

Preparations containing Arjuna extract are known to be very gentle, with no recorded adverse effects, toxic events, allergies, or cases of overdose.