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Terminalia Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna is a tree whose bark has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, valued for plant compounds that may act as antioxidants. In people with coronary artery disease, heart size went down and the heart's pumping strength, measured as ejection fraction, improved, though the evidence is limited. Each finding came from a single study of just 10 people, and a review in stable angina found no clear difference in exercise tolerance.

Sources: PMID 9505018; PMID 7649665

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
5 studies cited

Best evidence: Grade C
Conditions studied: 10
Outcomes: 17
Graded outcomes: 0025

Evidence by condition

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

10 conditions

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Heart Size Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	10 people
Studies that measured heart size Beneficial effects of Terminalia arjuna in coronary artery diseaseIndian Heart J · PMID 9505018
	Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	10 people
Studies that measured left ventricular ejection fraction Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInt J Cardiol · PMID 7649665
	Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies			10 people

Stable Angina

Stable Angina: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Exercise Tolerance No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	133 people
Studies that measured exercise tolerance Terminalia arjuna in Chronic Stable Angina: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cardiol Res Pract · PMID 24600529
	ST-segment depression	Improves (the measure goes down)			133 people

Aerobic Exercise Performance

Anaerobic Capacity
Power Output: improves

Aerobic Exercise Performance: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Anaerobic Capacity No effect		NoneNo effect		40 people
	Power Output	Improves (the measure goes up)			40 people

Muscle Size Strength

Anaerobic Capacity
Power Output: improves

Muscle Size Strength: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Anaerobic Capacity No effect		NoneNo effect		40 people
	Power Output	Improves (the measure goes up)			40 people

General Athletic Performance

Anaerobic Capacity
Power Output: improves

General Athletic Performance: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Anaerobic Capacity No effect		NoneNo effect		40 people
	Power Output	Improves (the measure goes up)			40 people

Muscle Size & Strength

Anaerobic Capacity
Power Output: improves

Muscle Size & Strength: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Anaerobic Capacity No effect		NoneNo effect		40 people
	Power Output	Improves (the measure goes up)			40 people

Cardiomyopathy

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: improves

Cardiomyopathy: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	12 people
Studies that measured left ventricular ejection fraction Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInt J Cardiol · PMID 7649665

Heart Failure

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: improves

Heart Failure: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	12 people
Studies that measured left ventricular ejection fraction Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInt J Cardiol · PMID 7649665

Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation

Mitral Regurgitation: improves

Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mitral Regurgitation	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	40 people
Studies that measured mitral regurgitation Role of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitationInt J Cardiol · PMID 15837100

General Cardiovascular Health

Anaerobic Capacity: improves

General Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Terminalia Arjuna
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Anaerobic Capacity	Improves (the measure goes up)			40 people

Key findings

Heart SizeCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)Improves (the measure goes down)
Left Ventricular Ejection FractionCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)Improves (the measure goes up)
Exercise ToleranceStable Angina

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Grade C

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Studies cited

5 studies from PubMed

Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adultsInt J Ayurveda Res · PMID 21170205
Role of Terminalia arjuna in ischaemic mitral regurgitationInt J Cardiol · PMID 15837100
Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failureInt J Cardiol · PMID 7649665
Beneficial effects of Terminalia arjuna in coronary artery diseaseIndian Heart J · PMID 9505018
Terminalia arjuna in Chronic Stable Angina: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cardiol Res Pract · PMID 24600529