What is Arjuna powder good for? (Benefits, Liver Side Effects)

What is Arjuna powder good for

Arjuna Powder Benefits

Arjuna powder is used in Ayurvedic medicine to support heart function (cardiovascular health). However, it has also shown other potential benefits as well.

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Makes heart muscles stronger
  • Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • Increases HLD (good) cholesterol
  • Lowers triglycerides
  • Antioxidant
  • Strengthens stomach mucosa
  • Supports liver and kidney function
  • May reduce fasting blood sugar levels on diabetic patients
  • Arjuna bark may heal acne prone skin

In the video below, Dr. John Douillard explains why Arjuna is good for the heart:


This is our recommended Arjuna supplement (Amazon’s Choice):

Himalaya Organic Arjuna, Blood Pressure Supplement for Cardiovascular Wellness and Heart Health, 700mg, 60 Caplets, 2 Month Supply

What are Terminalia Arjuna’s common names?

Terminalia Arjuna is commonly known with these names:

  • Arjun
  • Arjun Tree
  • Arjuna
  • Arjuna Tree

Arjuna side effects for liver

Study 1

Effect of Terminalia arjuna stem bark on antioxidant status in liver and kidney of alloxan diabetic rats

Background

Free radicals and associated oxidative stress induced by alloxan are implicated in eliciting pathological changes in diabetes mellitus.

Terminalia arjuna bark, an indigenous plant used in ayurvedic medicine in India, primarily as a cardiotonic is also used in treating diabetes, anemia, tumors and hypertension.

Methods

The present study examined the effect of ethanolic extract (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) of Terminalia arjuna stem bark in alloxan induced diabetic rats and its lipid peroxidation, enzymatic and nonenzymatic activity was investigated in the liver and kidney tissues.

Results

  • The extract produced significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (LPO).
  • The effect of oral T. arjuna at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight was more than the 250 mg/kg body weight.
  • The extract also causes a significant antioxidant property of T. arjuna bark.

Conclusion

The result indicates that the extract exhibit the antioxidant activity through correction of oxidative stress and validates the traditional use of this plant in diabetic animals.


Study 2

EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA ARJUNA ON LIVER FUNCTIONS AND HISTOPATHOLOGY OF LIVER IN ALBINO RATS FED WITH HYPERLIPIDEMIC DIET

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Ethanolic extract of Terminalia Arjuna on Liver functions, Lipid profile and histopathology of liver of albino rats fed with Hyperlipidemic diet.

Methods

Extraction of Terminalia arjuna bark by Soxhlet apparatus using 99% ethanol at 60° temp for 22 h and Phytochemical analysis was done.

  • Group 1 served as normal control.
  • Group 2 Fed with Isocaloric diet.
  • Group 3 Fed with Hyperlipidimic diet.
  • Group 4 Hyperlipidemic diet 21 d+Terminalia arjuna 21 d.

Dose of Ethonolic extract of Terminalia arjuna: (500 mg/kg Body weight daily).

Results

  • %body weight gain and hepatosomatic index were significantly improved in hyper lipidemic rats treated with Terminalia arjuna. 
  • There was significant improvement in markers of liver functions.
  • Liver shown microvescicular and macrovesicular fatty changes in hyper lipidemic rats and normal Hepatocytes in Hyperlipidimic rats treated with Terminalia arjuna.

Conclusion

It can be summarized that Terminalia arjuna is good, natural therapeutics in hyperlipidemia and liver disorders.


What is an effective Arjuna powder dosage?

  • For chest pain (angina): 500 mg, 3 times per day (every 8 hours) for up to 3 months.
  • Arjuna powder dosage: 1 to 3 g, 2 to 3 times per day (3 to 6 g per day)
  • Maximum possible Arjuna powder dosage: 24 g per day
  • Capsule/Tablet: 1 twice a day
  • Water decoction: 50-100ml per day

The study below shows an effective Arjuna powder dosage for chest pain:

Study Title

Role of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitation

Background

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. arjuna in ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Method used

40 patients with fresh AMI showing IMR were randomly divided into 2 groups of 20 each. They were given placebo or 500 mg of T. arjuna in addition to anti-ischemic treatment.

Results

After 1 and 3 months of follow up, patients receiving adjuvant T. arjuna showed significant decrease in IMR, improvement in E/A ratio and considerable reduction in anginal frequency.


Can you use Terminalia Arjuna for congestive heart failure?

Terminalia Arjuna has beneficial effects on patients with congestive heart failure, it helps to improve its symptoms, it maintains antioxidant enzyme activities, and inhibits inflammation.

Study 1

Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure

Methods

Twelve patients with refractory chronic congestive heart failure (Class IV NYHA), related to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (10 patients); previous myocardial infarction (one patient) and peripartum cardiomyopathy (one patient), received Terminalia Arjuna, an Indian medicinal plant, as bark extract (500 mg 8-hourly) or matching placebo for 2 weeks each, separated by 2 weeks washout period, in a double blind cross over design as an adjuvent to maximally tolerable conventional therapy (Phase I).

The clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic evaluation was carried out at baseline and at the end of Terminalia Arjuna and placebo therapy and results were compared.

Results

Terminalia Arjuna, compared to placebo, was associated with improvement in symptoms and signs of heart failure, improvement in NYHA Class (Class III vs. Class IV), decrease in echo-left ventricular enddiastolic and endsystolic volume indices, increase in left ventricular stroke volume index and increase in left ventricular ejection fractions.

Conclusion

On long term evaluation in an open design (Phase II), wherein Phase I participants continued Terminalia Arjuna in fixed dosage (500 mg 8-hourly) in addition to flexible diuretic, vasodilator and digitalis dosage for 20-28 months (mean 24 months) on outpatient basis, patients showed continued improvement in symptoms, signs, effort tolerance and NYHA Class, with improvement in quality of life.


Study 2

Terminalia arjuna enhances baroreflex sensitivity and myocardial function in isoproterenol-induced chronic heart failure rats

Background

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterized by left ventricular (LV) dysfunction along with impaired autonomic control functions. Herbal drugs are increasingly being used in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

The present study was designed to examine the protective effect of Terminalia arjuna (T arjuna) bark extract on LV and baroreflex function in CHF and to elucidate the possible mechanistic clues in its cardioprotective action.

Methods

The baroreflex was evaluated by measuring the changes in heart rate (HR) with changes in arterial blood pressure induced by bolus injections of phenylephrine (vasoconstrictor) and sodium nitroprusside (vasodilator).

T arjuna bark extract and fluvastatin were tested/administered therapeutically and prophylactically in isoproterenol-induced rat model of CHF.

Results

  • Fifteen days after isoproterenol administration, rats exhibited cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, and LV remodeling along with reduced baroreflex sensitivity.
  • Prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with T arjuna improved cardiac functions and baroreflex sensitivity.
  • It also attenuated hypertrophy and fibrosis of the LV.
  • Fluvastatin treatment exerted a similar protective effect against myocardial remodeling and heart failure.
  • Further, T arjuna and fluvastatin significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine level in CHF rats.

Conclusion

T arjuna exerts beneficial effect on LV functions, myocardial remodeling, and autonomic control in CHF possibly through maintaining endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and cytokine levels.


Study 3

Transcriptomic Validation of the Protective Effects of Aqueous Bark Extract of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) on Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats

Background

Aqueous extract of the bark of Terminalia arjuna (TA) is used by a large population in the Indian subcontinent for treating various cardiovascular conditions.

Animal experiments have shown its anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects. It has several bioactive ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties.

Earlier we have done limited analysis to show its efficacy in helping cardiac hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in rats.

In the present study we treated rat heart to further establish its efficacy.

Methods

  • ISO (5 mg/kg/day s.c.) was administered in male adult rats for 14 days to induce cardiac hypertrophy.
  • Standardized aqueous extract TA bark extract was administered orally. 

Results

  • Pre-treatment with the TA bark extracts markedly restored gene expression pattern.
  • The genes that were modulated included those involved in metabolism, activation of receptors and cell signaling, and cardiovascular and other diseases.
  • Overlaying of the networks in ISO and ISO_TA group showed that those activated in ISO group were mostly absent in ISO_TA and TA group, suggesting a global effect of the TA extracts.

Conclusion

This study for the first time reveals that TA partially or completely restores the gene regulatory network perturbed by ISO treatment in rat heart; signifying its efficacy in checking ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy.


Study 4

Objective

Our study was undertaken to observe the effect of Terminalia arjuna on total platelet count, lipid profile, clinical parameters in patients of coronary artery disease (CAD) and their usefulness in the same patient group.

Methods

One hundred patients having CAD were selected and randomised to study group (to receive Arjuna Chhal Powder) and control group (not receiving any medication).

After the therapy of 1 month with Arjuna Chhal Powder, patients of both study and control groups evaluated for body weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, total platelet count and lipid profile.

Observations were analysed with use of appropriate statistical test.

Results

  • We observed 0.22% decrease in body weight in study group although insignificant.
  • The systolic blood pressure decreased by 10.28% and diastolic blood pressure by 4.8% in the study group which was statistically significant in comparison to control group.
  • The pulse rate has shown a decrement of 4.85% of baseline and total platelet count decreased by 10.81% with statistically significant difference.
  • Lipid profile improved with 10.2% reduction in total cholesterol level, 17.9% reduction in serum triglyceride level, 9.59% reduction in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level, 16% reduction in serum very LDL level and 10.48% increase in serum high-density lipoprotein level, all being statistically significant. 

Conclusions

T. arjuna bark extract can significantly reduce blood pressure and favourably modify lipid profile. It might also have antioxidant properties and may be beneficial for cardiac as well as overall health.


Arjuna for Heart Palpitations

Arjuna is an ayurvedic herb that helps with heart disorders like:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Rhythm irregularities (Arrhythmia)
  • High blood pressure
  • Anxiety
  • Supports the heart’s lymph drainage
  • Strengthens the cardiac (heart) muscle
  • Improves the pumping activity of the heart

Arjuna powder benefits for skin

Arjuna powder has the following benefits for skin health and care:

  • Antioxidant (prevents skin aging)
  • Forms new skin cells
  • Skin hydration
  • Skin elasticity
  • Heals Acne scars
  • Cleans wounds and ulcers
  • Strengthens the skin

Arjuna bark for hair

Arjuna improves the quality and shininess of hair. You can apply a mixture of Arjuna leaves on your hair to get its benefits.

  • Soak mature green leaves of Arjuna with water
  • Mash the leaves with your hands until you get a gelatinous mix
  • Apply the mixture over wet hair
  • Wash hair after 10 minutes

Want to know more?

Click the links below to access the individual topic pages:


Sources

This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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  3. Parveen A, Babbar R, Agarwal S, Kotwani A, Fahim M. Terminalia arjuna enhances baroreflex sensitivity and myocardial function in isoproterenol-induced chronic heart failure rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun;17(2):199-207. doi: 10.1177/1074248411416816. Epub 2011 Aug 9. PMID: 21828283.
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What is Arjuna powder good for? (Benefits, Liver Side Effects)
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