Arjunarishta: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!
By Dr Siddharth Gupta +2 more
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By Dr Siddharth Gupta +2 more
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Arjunarishta, also known as Parthadyarishta,1 is a hydroalcoholic formulation of the herb Terminalia arjuna belonging to the Combretaceae family. It is sold as a herbal decoction. Arjunarishta is made up of fresh stem bark of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Madhuka (Madhuka indica), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa), and Jaggery (Saccharum officinarum). Arjunarishta has the highest percentage of Arjuna.2 It is formulated via a fermentation process which generates alcohol. This alcohol acts as a preservative as well as solvent.2
Did you know?
Arjuna bark contains many phytochemicals, triterpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, beta-sitosterol, minerals, and trace elements.
| Category | Phytochemicals |
| Triterpenoids | Arjunin, arjunic acid, arjunolic acid, arjungenin, terminic acid, ajunglucosides IV and V, arjunasides A-E, 2”‘alpha, 3”‘beta”‘dihydroxyurs”‘12,18”‘dien”‘28”‘oic acid 28”‘O”‘beta”‘d”‘glucopyranosyl ester |
| Flavonoids | Arjunolone, arjunone, baicalein, luteolin, gallic acid, ethyl gallate, quercetin, kempferol, pelargonidin, oligomeric proanthocyanidins |
| Glycosides | Arjunetin, arjunoside I, arjunoside II, arjunaphthanoloside, terminoside A |
| Tannins | Pyrocatechols, punicallin, punicalagin, terchebulin, terflavin C, castalagin, casuariin, casuarinin |
| Minerals and trace elements | Calcium, aluminum, magnesium, silica, zinc, copper |
Mentioned in ancient Indian medicinal texts like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridayam, Arjunarishta might hold ultimate medical value in managing cardiovascular diseases. Vagabhatta was the one who originally suggested using stem bark powder for heart conditions.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
Various phytochemicals present in Arjunarishta may provide many health benefits.3 Phytochemicals like flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids possess antioxidant effects and free radical scavenging ability that can reduce inflammation.3,5
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Traditional uses of Arjunarishta are obtained mainly from its bark. The significant old physician Chakradatta advised giving it as a bark decoction with milk or as a ghrita. It has been observed that consuming a decoction of bark might help in reducing headaches, earache and heart ailments. Dried bark powder mixed with rice water might help in reducing blood in the urine.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
As per the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Arjunarishta is to be taken after meals with water.1
An Ayurvedic doctor will help you with the dose depending upon your diagnosis.
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There is a lack of data regarding the interaction of Arjunarishta with other drugs. Therefore, patients are advised to talk to a doctor about its usage if they are already using any other medication or supplement.
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Arjunarishta is a hydroalcoholic formulation of the herb Terminalia arjuna belonging to the Combretaceae family. Arjunarishta is composed of fresh stem bark of Arjuna, Madhuka (Madhuka indica), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa) and Jaggery (Saccharum officinarum).
Arjunarishta is an Ayurvedic formulation made from the fresh stem bark of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Madhuka (Madhuka indica), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa), and Jaggery (Saccharum officinarum).
Arjunarishta contains many phytochemicals that act as antioxidants. Phytochemicals like flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids show antioxidant effects and free radical scavenging ability.3,5 Arjunarishta is used in hypertension. 4 Other therapeutic uses of Arjunarishta are in lung disorders, heart diseases, azoospermia, loss of strength and immunity.6
Arjunarishta is known to contain alcohol which is self-generated during the fermentation process.2
There are no safety studies pertaining to its usage in children. Arjunarishta is known to contain alcohol which is self-generated during the fermentation process.2 Thus, it should be used in children only after clear consultation with an Ayurvedic physician.
Consumption of arjuna is associated with mild side effects like body ache, headache, gastritis, and nausea.3 Consuming arjuna plant extract, which is the key component of Arjunarishta, can lead to liver toxicity and hypothyroidism.3
Arujunarishta nourishes and strengthens the muscles of the heart. It promotes heart functioning by regulating blood cholesterol and blood pressure. The chief constituent of Arjunarishta, Arjuna is beneficial in relieving angina pain, in the treatment of coronary heart disease and heart failure.7
There are no safety studies pertaining to its usage in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Therefore, it should be used with the doctor’s advice and supervision.
There are no safety studies about its usage in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Therefore, it should be used with the doctor’s advice and supervision. There are no safety studies about its usage in children. Arjunarishta is known to contain alcohol which is self-generated during the fermentation process.2
Arujunarishta nourishes and strengthens the muscles of the heart. It promotes heart functioning by regulating blood cholesterol and blood pressure. The chief constituent of Arjunarishta, Arjuna is beneficial in relieving angina pain, in the treatment of coronary heart disease and heart failure.7
Arjunarishta shows benefits in improving heart health, but it should not be used as a cure for any heart disease without consultation of a qualified doctor, or as an alternative to conventional medicines.
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1. Essential Drugs List (EDL)_Ayurveda Department of Ayush. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Available from: https://arogya.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/PDFs/EDL_Ayurveda.pdf
2. Verma AK, Kumar N, Gupta LN. Pharmaceutical standardization of Arjunarishta: A bio-medical fermented preparation. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 2014;5(4):476–9.
3. Dwivedi S, Chopra D. Revisiting Terminalia arjuna – An Ancient Cardiovascular Drug. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine [Internet]. 2014 Oct 1 [cited 2022 Feb 17];4(4):224–31. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25379463/
4. Vyanabala vaishamya (Hypertension) | National Health Portal of India [Internet]. [cited 2022 Feb 17]. Available from: https://www.nhp.gov.in/Vyanabala-vaishamya-(Hypertension)_mtl
5. Effect of Terminalia arjuna stem bark on antioxidant status in liver and kidney of alloxan diabetic rats – PubMed [Internet]. [cited 2022 Feb 17]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17051732/
6. Pharmacopoeia Commission For Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India Part-I Volume-I Government Of India Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare Department Of Ayush.
7. Shengule SA, Mishra S, Joshi K, Apte K, Patil D, Kale P, et al. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of Arjunarishta in high-fat fed animals. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine [Internet]. 2018 Jan 1 [cited 2022 Feb 17];9(1):45. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC5884182/
8. Protective effects of ethanolic extract residue isolated from the bark of Terminalia Arjuna against DLA tumor cells – PubMed [Internet]. [cited 2022 Feb 22]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21039058/
9. Grace Nirmala J, Evangeline Celsia S, Swaminathan A, Narendhirakannan RT, Chatterjee S. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death induced by Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts in A431 skin cancer cells. Cytotechnology [Internet]. 2018 Apr 1 [cited 2022 Feb 22];70(2):537–54. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28983752/
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