Terminalia arjuna supplement Health benefit and side effects, review of research studies

Ancient medical scientists have mentioned the properties of Terminalia arjuna herb.  Indian medical knowledge known as Ayurveda goes back millennia. The Vedas and Puranas refer various materials of medical importance including herbs, plants and trees. Modern research has discovered that Terminalia arjuna has antioxidant properties and may be clinically helpful in cardiovascular health.

Planetary Formulas Terminalia arjuna supplement, 550 mg,  120 Tablets - Planetary Formulas

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Tablet
Amount Per Serving  
Calcium - 30 mg           
Terminalia arjuna bark -  500 mg
Terminalia arjuna Bark Extract - 50 mg
    (standardized 10:1 extract)

Suggested use: Take one tablet once a day or as recommended by your health care provider.
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Compounds found in Terminalia arjuna herb
 A triterpene glycoside, arjunetoside, together with oleanolic and arjunic acids, and a cardenolide, have been isolated from the root bark of Terminalia arjuna.

 Terminalia arjuna benefit for heart
Over the years, several studies have been done with Terminalia arjuna. Here's a summary of some of the studies. You can find the abstracts at the bottom of this page.

Terminalia arjuna has been tested in patients with angina. Terminalia arjuna dilates blood vessels, even in cigarette smokers.
Arjunolic acid, a new triterpene and a potent extract from the bark of Terminalia arjuna, has been shown to provide significant cardiac protection in myocardial necrosis in rats. Arjunolic acid treatment prevents the decrease in the levels of powerful antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, alpha-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid.

Additional actions of Terminalia arjuna herb
Terminalia arjuna has compounds that protect against DNA damage from toxins.
Compounds in arjuna may help maintain healthy cholesterol.
A substance in arjuna, casuarinin, inhibits breast cancer cell growth.

Terminalia arjuna protects heart tissue
Terminalia arjuna protects mouse hearts against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress.
J Med Food. 2008 Dec; Sinha M, Manna P, Sil PC. Department of Chemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India.
Fluoride is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. In the current study we have investigated the antioxidative properties of an ethanol extract of the bark of Terminalia arjuna against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced oxidative stress in murine heart. Our results suggest that Terminalia arjuna extract protects murine hearts from sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress, probably via its antioxidant properties.

Terminalia arjuna Terminalia Research Update
Effects of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2.
 World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Feb 21;12(7):1018-24.
AIM: To investigate the effects of Terminalia arjuna extract on human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) and its possible role in induction of apoptosis. Terminalia arjuna induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells in vitro. Apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be due to the DNA damage and expression of apoptotic proteins. Depletion of GSH may be involved in the induction of apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Antioxidant activity of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Jan;281(1-2):87-93. Sivalokanathan S, Ilayaraja M, Balasubramanian MP.
Department of Pharmacology and Environmental Toxicology, Dr. ALM Post-Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant nature of ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna bark on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in male Wistar albino rats. Our results show an antioxidant activity of Terminalia arjuna bark against DEN-induced liver cancer.

Role of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitation.
Int J Cardiol. 2005 Apr 28;100(3):507-8. Dwivedi S, Aggarwal A, Agarwal MP, Rajpal S.
The bark powder of Terminalia arjuna, an indigenous plant has been found to have antianginal, decongestive and hypolipidemic effect. We planned a study to evaluate the role of T. Terminalia arjuna in ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). 40 patients with fresh AMI showing IMR were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 each. They were given placebo or 500 mg of Terminalia arjuna in addition to anti-ischemic treatment. After 1 and 3 months of follow up, patients receiving adjuvant Terminalia arjuna showed significant decrease in IMR, improvement in E/A ratio and considerable reduction in anginal frequency.

Terminalia arjuna supplement emails
Q. My husband and I have used Terminalia arjuna for the past few months and we both believe it has lowered our blood pressure.

Q. I was diagnosed with hypertension many years ago and since then have been prescribed various allopathic drugs, most recently Atenolol. On November 23, 2004 I reduced the dosage of Atenolol and replaced it gradually with Terminalia arjuna which we purchased online from you. I have been taking Terminalia arjuna exclusively since Dec 1.  Since Dec 1, my blood pressure seems to have been as well controlled by Terminalia arjuna as it was previously by allopathic drugs and from this aspect, I see no reason why I should not continue taking Terminalia arjuna exclusively. However, I am concerned about the seeming lack of any documentation regarding its long term effects. Information on such effects is readily available in respect of allopathic anti-hypertensives. If Terminalia arjuna terminalia has such a long history of use in such conditions, surely there must be some data on the effects of long term use - even if the conclusion is that there is no traceable effect. Can you please comment on this point?
   A. Even though Terminalia arjuna has a long history of use, this was probably recorded in India and has not make it to the Western medical research information base.

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