Arjunarishta
Arjunarishta is a classical Ayurvedic fermented arishta or asava. Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI), which attributes it to Bhaisajyaratnavali, Hrdrogadhikara. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 1:21) lists 6 ingredients: Partha tvak 4.800 kg, Mrdvika 2.400 kg, Madhuka 960 g, Water for decoction 49.152 l. reduced to 12.288 l, Dhataki 960 g and Guda 4.800 kg.
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). Terminalia arjuna bark monograph included in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. HPLC-standardized formulations available commercially. AYUSH-approved manufacturing standards. |
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Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:21 (PARTHADYARISTA (Synonym : Arjunarista)), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Hrdrogadhikara; 73-74%.. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partha tvak (arjuna) | stem bark | 4.800 kg. |
| 2 | Mrdvika (draksa) | dry fruit | 2.400 kg. |
| 3 | Madhuka * | flower | 960 g. |
| 4 | Water for decoction * | 49.152 l. reduced to 12.288 l. | |
| 5 | Dhataki * | flower | 960 g. |
| 6 | Guda | 4.800 kg. |
* The scanned text was damaged at this row and the name was read from the entry's own Sanskrit verse.
The Formulary gives the dose as 12 to 24 ml. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
The evidence at a glance
2papers on this site for this drug, published 2018 to 2020, every one with a DOI.
- 2Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Arjunarishta |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Charaka Samhita (1st-2nd century CE) and Sushruta Samhita (3rd-4th century CE), where it is described as Arjuna Asava for strengthening the heart and enhancing stamina. Arjuna is praised as Hridya (cardiac tonic) in classical texts.
How does it work?
- Cardioprotective action through flavonoids, glycosides (arjunetin, arjunolic acid), and coenzyme Q10 protecting myocardial cells
- Antioxidant activity (ellagic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol) has been reported in research
- Anti-hypertensive effect through mild ACE inhibition and vasodilation
- Research has reported calcium channel stabilization and antiarrhythmic activity
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Heart tonic (Hridya): traditionally used as a heart tonic. Studies have reported reduced post-ischemic damage.
- Cardiac weakness and palpitations: traditionally used for cardiac weakness and palpitations. Research has reported antiarrhythmic activity and calcium channel stabilization.
- Hypertension: traditionally used in hypertension. Research has reported ACE inhibition and vasodilatory activity.
- Hyperlipidemia: traditionally used in hyperlipidemia. Research has reported antioxidant and lipid-lowering properties for Arjuna.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- Generally well-tolerated. Contains 5-10% self-generated alcohol. Should be used cautiously in patients on cardiac medications (digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers) due to potential interactions.
- May potentiate antihypertensive drugs leading to excessive blood pressure reduction. Patients with hypotension should use with caution. Not recommended during pregnancy.
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Arishta (fermented decoction), Capsules (modern), Syrup (modern)
Standard Dosage: 12 to 24 ml twice daily after meals with equal water, as given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 1:21. The formulary attributes this formula to Bhaisajyaratnavali, Hrdrogadhikara; 73-74½.
Optimal Timing: After meals, twice daily, preferably morning and evening for cardiac indications
Storage: Store in well-closed amber glass or HDPE containers in a cool, dry place. Protect from direct sunlight. Temperature not exceeding 30°C.
Marker Compounds: Arjunic acid, Arjungenin, Arjunetin, Arjunolone, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid
Vehicle (Anupana): Equal quantity of water
Synergistic Combinations
- Pushyanuga Churna
- Hridayarnava Rasa
- Prabhakara Vati
- Ashwagandha Churna for cardio-adaptogenic synergy
What manufacturers publish about this preparation
Disclosure first. This site is published by Age Ayurveda, which sells Ayurvedic products, though not this preparation. Every cell states what that company's own product page carried when it was read, not our judgement of it. There is no score, no rank and no winner here, and the table is in alphabetical order for that reason.
The formulary entry above fixes the ingredients and the quantity of each. Whether you can check a particular product against it depends on what its manufacturer publishes. Of the 6 companies surveyed that sell a product under this name, this is what their pages carried when they were read on 8 October 2026.
| Company | What its product page publishes |
|---|---|
| Baidyanath | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Maharishi Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Patanjali Ayurved | An ingredient list, without quantities |
| Sandu Pharmaceuticals | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
| Shree Dhootapapeshwar | Ingredients and the quantity of each |
| Sitaram Ayurveda | Neither an ingredient list nor quantities |
This measures what each company publishes, not the quality of anything it makes. A company that publishes nothing here may make an excellent preparation, and the label in the box is a separate, regulated surface that is not what was read. What disclosure changes is whether a reader, a pharmacist or an answer engine can check a product against the formulary entry it claims.
Method, the full counts across every company surveyed, and what this measurement got wrong the first time: which manufacturers publish what is in the bottle. The URL of every page read is recorded in brand-disclosure.json. If a row here is wrong, including where the correction favours a company other than ours, tell us and we will fix it and say that we did. How the same companies' stated doses compare with the formulary dose, preparation by preparation: Ayurvedic company doses against the Ayurvedic Formulary of India.
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies2
- 2018. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of Arjunarishta in high-fat fed animalsJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 29249636 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2017.07.004
- 2020. Arjunarishta alleviates experimental colitis via suppressing proinflammatory cytokine expression, modulating gut microbiota and enhancing antioxidant effectMolecular biology reports. PMID 32885365 · doi:10.1007/s11033-020-05766-z
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.