Arjuna product
Terminalia arjuna study

Ancient Indian Medical knowledge known as Ayurveda goes back millennia. The Vedas and Puranas refer various materials of medical importance including herbs, plants and trees, etc. Ancient medical scientists have mentioned the properties of Arjuna. Modern research has discovered that Arjuna has antioxidant properties and may be clinically helpful in patients with angina.

Arjuna study
Antimutagenic activities of acetone and methanol fractions of Terminalia arjuna.
Kaur K. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. kamal_Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Oct;40(10):1475-82.
The antimutagenic effect of benzene, chloroform, acetone and methanol fractions from Terminalia arjuna, a well-known medicinal plant, was determined against Acid Black dye, 2-aminofluorene (2AF) and 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD) in TA98 Frameshift mutagen tester strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Among the different fractions, the antimutagenic effect of acetone and methanol fractions was more than that observed with other fractions. Co-incubation and pre-incubation modes of experimentation did not show much difference in the antimutagenic activity of the extracts. Moreover, these fractions inhibited the S9-dependent mutagens, 2AF and Acid Black dye more effectively than the direct-acting mutagens. Studies are under way to isolate and elucidate the nature of the antimutagenic factor in acetone and methanol fractions of arjuna.

Efficacy of Terminalia arjuna in chronic stable angina: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study comparing Terminalia arjuna with isosorbide mononitrate.
Bharani A. MGM Medical College and MY Hospital, Indore, MP. Indian Heart J. 2002 Mar-Apr;54(2):170-5.
Terminalia arjuna, an Indian medicinal plant, has been reported to have beneficial effects in patients with ischemic heart disease in a number of small, open studies. The need for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study with adequate sample size has long been felt. The arjuna bark extract contains acids (arjunic acid, terminic acid), glycosides (arjunetin arjunosides), strong antioxidants (flavones, tannins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins), minerals. etc. and exhibits anti-ischemic properties. Fifty-eight males with chronic stable angina (NYHA class II-III) with evidence of provocable ischemia on treadmill exercise test received Terminalia arjuna (500 mg 8 hourly), isosorbide mononitrate (40 mg/daily) or a matching placebo for one week each, separated by a wash-out period of at least three days in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. They underwent clinical, biochemical and treadmill exercise evaluation at the end of each therapy which were compared during the three therapy periods. Terminalia arjuna therapy was associated with significant decrease in the frequency of angina and need for isosorbide dinitrate. The treadmill exercise test parameters improved significantly during therapy with Terminalia arjuna compared to those with placebo. The total duration of exercise increased, maximal ST depression during the longest equivalent stages of submaximal exercise decreased , time to recovery decreased, and higher double products were achieved during Terminalia arjuna therapy. Similar improvements in clinical and treadmill exercise test parameters were observed with isosorbide mononitrate compared to placebo therapy. No significant differences were observed in clinical or treadmill exercise test parameters when Terminalia arjuna and isosorbide mononitrate therapies were compared. No significant untoward effects were reported during Terminalia arjuna therapy. Terminalia arjuna bark extract, 500 mg 8 hourly, given to patients with stable angina with provocable ischemia on treadmill exercise, led to improvement in clinical and treadmill exercise parameters as compared to placebo therapy. These benefits were similar to those observed with isosorbide mononitrate (40 mg/day) therapy and the extract was well tolerated. Limitations of this study include applicability of the results to only men with chronic stable angina but not necessarily to women, as they were not studied.

Modulatory effect of phenolic fractions of Terminalia arjuna on the mutagenicity in Ames assay.
Kaur K, Arora S, DGuru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2002;21(1):45-56.
We determined the antimutagenicity of phenolic fractions of Terminalia arjuna (soluble and insoluble in chloroform) against two direct-acting mutagens, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD) and sodium azide, and against the S9-dependent mutagen 2-aminofluorene (2AF), in TA98 and TA100 tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium. We found that the phenolic fractions of T. arjuna inhibited revertants induced by the S9-dependent mutagen more remarkably than the direct-acting mutagens. Furthermore, the phenolic fractions showed maximum inhibition of 98% and 101.55%, respectively, in the pre-incubation mode of treatment against the mutations induced by 2AF. Overall, the fractions inhibited the revertants induced by S9-dependent mutagens more effectively than those induced by direct-acting mutagens. The percentage of inhibition was higher in the pre-incubation than with direct acting mutagens. The fraction insoluble in chloroform showed more inhibition than the soluble one, which corresponds to a higher polyphenol content in the insoluble fraction than in the soluble extract.

Antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree-bark powder: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Gupta R, Singhal S, Monilek Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur. J Assoc Physicians India. 2001 Feb;49:231-5.
To evaluate the antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark (a popular cardiotonic substance in Indian pharmacopoeia) and to compare it with a known antioxidant, vitamin E, we performed a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and five successive patients with coronary heart disease presenting to our centre were recruited and using a Latin-square design divided into 3 groups of 35 each. The groups were matched for age, lifestyle and dietary variables, clinical diagnosis and drug treatment status. None of the patients was on lipid-lowering drugs. Supplemental vitamins were stopped for one month before study began and American Heart Association Step II dietary advice was given to all. At baseline, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol and lipid peroxide estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were determined. Group I received placebo capsules; Group II vitamin E capsules 400 units/day; and Group III received finely pulverized T. arjuna tree bark-powder (500 mg) in capsules daily. Lipids and lipid peroxide levels were determined at 30 days follow-up. RESULTS: Response rate in various groups varied from 86% to 91%. No significant changes in total, HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels were seen in Groups I and II (paired t-test p > 0.05). In Group III there was a significant decrease in total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. Lipid peroxide levels decreased significantly in both the treatment groups. This decrease was more in vitamin E group as compared to the T. arjuna group. CONCLUSIONS: Terminalia arjuna tree bark powder has significant antioxidant action that is comparable to vitamin E. In addition, it also has a significant hypocholesterolaemic effect.

Arjuna emails
Q. Can arjuna and Hoodia-Extract be taken together? What about Green-Tea-Extract?
   A. Those with heart disease should be careful using high doses of supplements and should learn how each one works by itself, and how it influences heart rhythm, before combining.

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