Herbal Notes Probe • Vol LXII • No. 3 • May–Aug 2023 • 43 Terminalia arjuna Sanskrit name Arjuna English name Arjun Tree Habit and Habitat Terminalia arjuna is an evergreen, exotic, large tree that grows up to a height of 60 to 80 feet. The tree is found commonly in India (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and Deccan Plateau) and Sri Lanka. The stem bark appears smooth, pale greenish yellow on the outer surface and pinkish on the inner side, and longitudinally striated. The leaves are simple, thick, and alternate. The flowers are white or yellowish. The fruits are drupes that are glabrous, woody, and fibrous.1 Pharmacologic Actions The root bark, stem bark, leaves, seeds, and fruits of T arjuna are rich in various phytochemicals including triterpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, sterols, and minerals. The other important phytochemicals include arjunin, arjunetin, arjunic acid, arjugenin, arjunolone, terminic acid, and terminoltin. These phytochemicals are responsible for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and gastroprotective properties of T arjuna.1 A study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective property of T arjuna bark. Albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups as follows: group 1 was fed water (control); group 2 was fed with an isocaloric diet for 42 days; group 3 was fed with a high-fat diet for 42 days; group 4 was fed with a high-fat diet and an ethanolic extract of T arjuna (21 days with high-fat diet + 21 days with ethanolic extract of T arjuna), at a daily dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. At the end of the treatment, serum and liver tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Upon evaluation, a significant improvement in the lipid profile, levels of liver function biomarkers, and a marked structural alteration (microvesicular and macrovesicular fatty changes) were noticed in hyperlipidemic rats fed with ethanolic extract of T arjuna. Thus, the study confirms the beneficial effect of T arjuna in treating hyperlipidemia and liver disorders.2 Another study evaluated the hypolipidemic effect of T arjuna bark in hypercholesteremic rats. Healthy male albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: group 1 received the standard diet, group 2 received a high-fat diet, group 3 received a high-fat diet and an ethanolic extract of T arjuna (at doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg body weight), and group 4 received 5 mg atorvastatin tablet, for 6 weeks, orally. At the end of 6 weeks, the serum and liver tissue samples were collected for analyses. The results showed that 50% v/v ethanol bark extract (40 mg/kg body weight) reduced the atherogenic index, liver weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins and significantly increased the lipoprotein lipase activity, while decreasing the lipogenic enzyme activity. Thus, the study proved the hypolipidemic effect of T arjuna bark.3 References 1. Gupta S, et al. Pharm Innov J. 2018;7(3):223–231. 2. Desai SD, et al. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2015;7(10):302–306. 3. Patil RH, et al. Acta Biol Szeged. 2011;55(2):289–293. Terminalia arjuna is an ingredient of Liv.52 drops, syrup, tablet, DS syrup, and DS tablet.
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