Arjuna Twak
Terminalia arjuna
Arjuna Twak (Terminalia arjuna) is a plant drug, from the Combretaceae family. Arjunolic acid bioavailability ~8-12%. Kshirapaka enhances triterpene absorption significantly. Tannin-rich matrix provides sustained release of active compounds. Piperine co-administration can enhance arjunolic acid bioavailability by 30-40%.
| Botanical name | Terminalia arjuna |
|---|---|
| Family | Combretaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Myrtales |
| Also known as | Arjuna Twak, ArjunaTwak |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3699548 · Wikidata Q2719381 · NCBI Taxonomy 172200 |
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 1995 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 3Randomised controlled trials
- 9Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Arjuna Twak |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kshirapaka (milk decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Ghana Vati (extract tablet)
Standard Dosage: 3-6g bark powder twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; 500mg-1g extract capsule; Kshirapaka preparation preferred
Optimal Timing: Morning and evening with warm milk (Kshirapaka) for cardiovascular support.
Storage: Airtight containers, cool dry place, below 25°C. Protect from moisture, tannins are hygroscopic. Whole bark pieces store longer than powder.
Marker Compounds: Arjunolic acid, Arjunic acid, Arjunetin, Casuarinin, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Arjunaphthanol, Friedelin
Synergistic Combinations
- With Ashwagandha for cardiac strengthening
- With Punarnava, traditionally paired in cardiac formulations
- With Pushkaramoola, traditionally paired in cardiac formulations
- With Dalchini (cinnamon) for metabolic cardioprotection
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.
Randomised controlled trials3
- 2017. Effect of E-OJ-01 on Cardiac Conditioning in Young Exercising Adults: A Randomized Controlled TrialAmerican journal of therapeutics. PMID 27930383 · doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000542
- 2005. Role of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitationInternational journal of cardiology. PMID 15837100 · doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2004.10.045
- 1995. Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInternational journal of cardiology. PMID 7649665 · doi:10.1016/0167-5273(95)02320-v
Other clinical studies and reviews9
- 2026. Hepatoprotective Potential of Indian Medicinal PlantsCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening. PMID 39835553 · doi:10.2174/0113862073346295250107070310
- 2023. Therapeutic potential and industrial applications of Terminalia arjuna barkJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 36933876 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116352
- 2023. Terminalia arjuna, a Cardioprotective Herbal Medicine-Relevancy in the Modern Era of Pharmaceuticals and Green Nanomedicine-A ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36678623 · doi:10.3390/ph16010126
- 2021. Plants Used as AntihypertensiveNatural products and bioprospecting. PMID 33174095 · doi:10.1007/s13659-020-00281-x
- 2021. Antiviral Potential of Selected Medicinal Herbs and Their Isolated Natural ProductsBioMed research international. PMID 34926691 · doi:10.1155/2021/7872406
- 2017. Medicinal properties of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.: A reviewJournal of traditional and complementary medicine. PMID 28053890 · doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.02.003
- 2016. Traditional herbs: a remedy for cardiovascular disordersPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 26656228 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2015.10.012
- 2015. The medicinal properties and phytochemistry of plants of the genus Terminalia (Combretaceae)Inflammopharmacology. PMID 26226895 · doi:10.1007/s10787-015-0246-z
- 2015. Potential herbs and herbal nutraceuticals: food applications and their interactions with food componentsCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 24915396 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.649148
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.