Abstract

AYURVEDIC AND MODERN ASPECTS OF ARJUNA (TERMINALIA ARJUNA ROXB): AN OVERVIEW

Khandekar Surekha Babasaheb* and Pansare Tabassum Arif

ABSTRACT

To cure human diseases, medicinal plants have been a major source of therapeutic agents since ancient time. Terminalia arjuna is one kind of widely used medicinal plant throughout India and used in various indigenous system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna Roxb) tree belonging to family Combretaceae is widely distributed throughout India. In Ayurvedic classics it is regarded as a hridya drug (cardiotonic drugs i.e. drugs having beneficial action on the heart). Its stem bark contains glycosides, large quantities of flavonoids, tannins and minerals. Arjuna is recorded to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antihelmintic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, radioprotective, antimutagenic and lipid lowering effects while glycosides are cardiotonic, thus making Arjuna unique amongst currently used medicinal plants. In this review an attempt has been made to highlight an ayurvedic aspect as well as its phytochemical and pharmacological activities. This article spreads a hopeful array for the researchers to explore it at molecular level and pharmaceutical industries to develop a new product.

Keywords: Terminalia arjuna, Arjuna, phytochemical, pharmacological, cardiotonic.