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Arjungenin, a new triterpene isolated from Terminalia arjuna, is shown to be 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1). The structures of two new triterpene glucosides, arjunglucoside I and arjunglucoside II, isolated from the same plant, were determined to be β-D-glucopyranosyl 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate (2) and β-D-glucopyranosyl arjunolate (3), respectively.

The structure of terminic acid, a new dihydroxytriterpene carboxylic acid isolated from the roots of Terminalia arjuna, has been established as 3β, 13β-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid by a study of its chemical reactions and spectroscopic data. Terminic acid and its derivatives were found to undergo skeletal rearrangement under protonic conditions to yield oleanene lactone.

Terminalia arjuna is an important cardiotonic plant described in the Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical science. It is also believed to have the ability to cure hepatic, urogenital, venereal and viral diseases. An attempt is made here to analyse the available drug recipes using this plant from Sanskrit literature in the light of modern scientific knowledge. The chemistry and pharmacology of T. arjuna are also discussed and areas of future investigations are identified.

Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) is used in traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases (Ahmed, 2002). The phyto-chemical studies shows that the plant contains active and medicinal principles like glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, tennins etc (Ahmed, 2002). The chemical examinations of its fruits were taken up to isolate and identify active principles. For this purpose fresh fruits of Terminalia arjuna were extracted with rectified spirit. The extract was then triturated with ethyl acetate, which was then subjected to column chromatographic separation followed by PTLC. Such separation led to the isolation and purification of compound, sitosteryl-3-o-ß-Dglucoside. The structure of compound was characterized by IR, 1H-NMR and 13CNMR spectroscopic studies. Key words : Arjun, Phyto-chemical studies, Sitosteryl, Glucosidy, Chromatographic separation.DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i2.974 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(2),283-290 , 2008

Different parts of various plants or their extracts have been used to treat a number of diseases from the ancient time due to their therapeutic value. However, their mechanism of actions remains mostly undiscovered. In this study, brine shrimp ( Artemia salina ) lethality and antibacterial activity of Azadirachta indica and Terminalia arjuna ethanolic leaf extracts were investigated. A. indica extract showed greater brine shrimp cytotoxicity with lethal concentration 50 (LC 50 ) value of 36.813 mg/ml, whereas the LC 50 value of T. arjuna extract was 44.157 mg/ml. Antimicrobial activity of these extracts was assayed by agar-well diffusion method and it was found that both of the extracts were effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Later, we found that the cellular proteins isolated from Shigella dysenteriae , which were treated with both of the plant extracts, were aggregated. This aggregation of proteins was demonstrated by detection of protein bands at the upper portion of both of the stacking and separating gels. The extracts-mediated aggregation of cellular proteins might be responsible for the cytotoxic effect that ultimately caused death of the bacterial cells. All of the above results suggest that both of the plant extracts have potential bioactivities that may have therapeutic value. These findings may lead us to develop new effective medicine in future. Key words: Azadirachta indica ; Terminalia arjuna ; Brine shrimp; Antibacterial activity; Protein aggregation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjm.v25i2.4873 Bangladesh J Microbiol , Volume 25, Number 2, December 2008, pp 115-121

Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) is a source of many potent, biologically active compounds, planned all over Bangladesh. The chemical examinations of its fruits were taken up to isolate and identify active principles. For this purpose fresh fruits of Terminalia arjuna were extracted with rectified spirit. The extract was then triturated with petroleum ether (40-60°C), which was then subjected to column chromatographic separation followed by PTLC. Such separation led to the isolation of some new pure compounds, TA-1 to TA-5. The structures of compounds were characterized through spectroscopic studies (IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). Key words: Arjun, TA-1, TA-5, Spectroscopic studies DOI: 10.3329.bjsir.v43i1.863 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(1),123-130, 2008

Chemical compositions of leaves of neem ( Azadirachta indica ), sajna ( Moringa oleifera ), arjun ( Terminalia arjuna ), tulsi ( Ocimum sanctum ), turmeric ( Curcuma longa ); rhizomes of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) and turmeric; fruits of amla ( Emblica officinalis ), haritaki ( Terminalia chebula ), bohera ( Terminalia belerica) and bulbs of garlic ( Allium sativum ) of indigenous origin were determined. Proximate and mineral components [Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn)] were determined. Dry matter (DM) varied from 964g/kg in arjun leaves to 892g/kg in tulsi leaves. Sajna leaves were high in protein (240g/kg), whereas haritaki fruits were low (34g/kg). Highest amount of ether extract (EE) was found in turmeric rhizomes and the lowest in amla fruits. The crude fibre (CF) ranged from 134 g/kg in turmeric leaves to 7g/kg in garlic bulbs. Highest amounts of ash were found in tulsi leaves (136g/kg), whereas haritaki had 42g/kg. All the plant products had high Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) and haritaki ranked the highest. Neem leaves contained the highest amount of Ca and Mg. Fruits had lower amounts of P than other products. K content ranged between 8510 ppm in turmeric leaves and 4190 ppm in arjun leaves. Tulsi leaves contain higher amounts of Na, whereas arjun leaves contained less. Tulsi leaves contain higher amount of Cu and Zn than other plant products. The Mn content ranged from 17 ppm in ginger to 780 ppm in garlic bulbs. Only sajna and neem leaves are considered as fair sources of protein. Such ingredients may be considered as good sources of Ca and Mg. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i1.4616 Bangl. vet . 2008. Vol. 25, No. 1, 32-39

Seventy eight samples of poultry litter were collected from different farm of rural area of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Among 78 samples, 43 samples were Salmonella positive. Twelve organisms those showing resistance against at least two antibiotics were selected (Table I). Antimicrobial activities of the bark extract of T. arjuna against twelve selected isolates of Salmonella were then determined (Table II). Eleven of those selected isolates were shown zone of inhibition against crude bark extract of T. arjuna and one Salmonella (CL-10F) isolates showed no zone of inhibition. Key words : T. arjuna; Salmonella; Poultry; Antibiotic; Resistant; Anti-microbial. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i2.8180 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 46(2) , 147-152, 2011

Cancer is one of the major causes of death all over the world. Different attempts have been taken for the prevention and cure of this devastating disease. Along with various chemically synthesized drugs, extracts from different medicinal plants have been studied to combat cancer. In this study, the effects of leaf extracts from Azadirachta indica and Terminalia arjuna have been investigated on HeLa cells, a well known human cancer cell line. Both of the extracts were found to cause death of HeLa cells dose-dependently. However, the extract of T. arjuna was found more promising than the extract of A. indica in mediating cell death. At a concentration of 50 μg/ml, T. arjuna extract killed 95% cells, whereas the same concentration of A. indica extract killed only 55% cells. In many cases, cell death induced by various chemicals often involves fragmentation of DNA. In this study, the extracts of both plants did not induce any detectable level of HeLa cell DNA fragmentation as demonstrated by agarose gel electrophoresis. This result argued that the cell death might occur before initiation of the process of cellular DNA fragmentation bypassing the apoptotic pathway of cell death. Key words: Cancer; Cell death; Azadirachta indica ; Terminalia arjuna . DOI: 10.3329/dujps.v8i1.5339 Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 8(1): 75-79, 2009 (June)

The Bark of Terminalia arjuna is considered as Cardio protective and Hypolipidemic in folklore medicine. In the present investigation, the detailed pharmacognostic study of T. arjuna Bark is carried out to lay down the standards, which could be useful in future Forensic identification of unknown plant material. The study includes macroscopic, microscopic, preliminary phytochemical screening and physicochemical evaluation. The objective of this study was to characterize the unknown plant material seized from the scene of crime. In the present communication, a TLC-method was also described for the identification of Arjuna bark.

Medicinal plants have been a main source of therapeutic agents from ancient time to cure diseases. Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (T. arjuna) is one of the most accepted and beneficial medicinal plants in indigenous system of medicine for the treatment of various critical diseases. This comprehensive review provides various aspects of its ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacognostical, pharmacological and clinical significance to different diseases particularly in cardiovascular conditions. This plant has a good safety outline when used in combination with other conventional drugs. This review highlights various medicinal properties of T. arjuna through different studies such as antioxidant, hypotensive, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic and gastro-productive effect.

Objective The alcoholic extract of stem bark of Terminalia arjuna (ALTA) was screened for antioxidant and antimutagenic (anticlastogenic) activity. Methods Antioxidant property was determined by 1, 1, Diphyny l, 2-Picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, super oxide radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation assay and total polyphenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau's reagent. Antimutagenic activity was evaluated using micronucleus test in mice. Results The ALTA has shown potent antioxidant activity with EC 50 of 2.491±0.160, 50.110±0.150 & 71.000±0.250 in DPPH assay, superoxide radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation assay, which is comparable with ascorbic acid with EC 50 of 2.471±0.140, 40.500±0.390 and 63.000±0.360 respectively. In micronucleus test, ALTA (100 & 200mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant reduction in percentage of micronucleus in both polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) and also shown significant reduction in P/N ratio. Conclusions These results suggested that ALTA possess significant antioxidant and antimutagenic activity.

Objective To develop a noval bioanalytical parameters for standardization of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) extract. Methods In the present investigation, parameters such as preliminary phytochemical analysis, total phenol, flavonoid, tannin content, solubility test, heavy metal analysis, antimicrobial study and quantitative analysis by HPTLC method were performed in order to standardization. Results Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate, tannin, steroid, triterpenoid, glycoside, saponin, flavonoid, amino acid and protein. Loss on drying and solubily in water was found to be 5.04% and 81.10%. Total flavonoid and phenol content was found to be 10.4% and 0.44%. Total tannin content was found to be 24.8%. The content of quercetin and rutin in T. arjuna was found to be 1.08%w/w and 0.16%w/w respectively. Further the level of heavy metal and microrganism were found to be under the limit. Conclusions These bioanalytical parameters can be used as an important tool for the food scientists, researchers and even the consumers for its standards.

The structure of a new sapogenin, arjungenin, isolated from Terminalia arjuna was shown to be 2α, 3β, 19α, 23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (I).

Experiments were carried out to elucidate the effects of extracts from Terminalia arjuna on potassium chloride (160 mM) induced contraction in smooth muscle. The petroleum ether extract did not exhibit a response, whereas the preincubation of tissue with the alcoholic extract inhibited contraction. Experimental approaches, described here, lead to the speculation that T. arjuna may impart its action through the modulation of Ca2+ ions across the cellular membrane.

Arjungenin, a new triterpene isolated from Terminalia arjuna, is shown to be 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1). The structures of two new triterpene glucosides, arjunglucoside I and arjunglucoside II, isolated from the same plant, were determined to be β-D-glucopyranosyl 2α,3β,19α,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate (2) and β-D-glucopyranosyl arjunolate (3), respectively.

TERMINALIA ARJUNA (Hindi name Arjuna, Family Combretacae) has been used in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders by Ayurvedic physicians. However, its properties have not been scientifically evaluated so far. Therefore, the present study was carried out to examine the underlying mechanism of the cardiovascular effects of aqueous solution of TERMINALIA ARJUNA extract. Intravenous (I. V.) administration of the extract was found to induce dose dependent decrease in blood pressure (B. P.) and heart rate (H. R.). These extracts also inhibited carotid occlusion response, without affecting the pressor responses, induced by intravenous injection of norepinephrine and by electrical stimulation of preganglionic fibres of the abdominal splanchnic nerve. Hypotension and bradycardia were also observed following the injection of the extract into the lateral cerebral ventricle and vertebral artery. The results of the present study show that the hypotensive and bradycardiac effects of T. ARJUNA are mainly of central origin.

We determined the antimutagenic potential of chloroform, acetone, methanol, methanol+HCl, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate extracts of Terminalia arjuna bark against the model mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO) using the Salmonella/microsome, comet, and micronucleus (MN) tests. Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain and human peripheral white blood cells were coincubated with various concentrations (from 5 to 500 microg) of the six extracts and 4-NQO (from 0.05 to 2 microg). We found that the 4-NQO mutagenicity was inhibited by more than 70% in the Salmonella/microsome test at the highest nontoxic extract dose of ethyl acetate (50 microg/plate), chloroform (100 microg/plate), acetone, (100 microg/plate), and methanol (500 microg/plate). A less marked antimutagenicity activity (inhibition of about 40-45%) was observed for the acidic methanol and diethyl ether extracts. The comet assay showed that acetone extract (100 microg/mL) was more effective in reducing the DNA damage caused by 4-NQO (ca. 90%), whereas the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and diethyl ether extracts were cytotoxic. In the MN test, the decrease in 4-NQO clastogenicity was observed by testing the mutagen especially with chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts (inhibition about 40-45%). The acetone and methanol extracts showed a less marked activity (33% and 37%, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that T. arjuna bark contains some nonpolar as well as polar compounds with antimutagenic activity against 4-NQO. Several explanations can be suggested, but further investigations are necessary to definitely identify the active compounds.

We have investigated the effects of acetone and methanol extracts of a medicinal plant, Terminalia arjuna, on the growth of human normal fibroblasts (WI-38), osteosarcoma (U2OS), and glioblastoma (U251) cells in vitro. We found that both extracts at 30 μg and 60 μg/ml concentrations inhibit the growth of transformed cells; the growth of normal cells was least affected. Although the transformed cells appeared to have fragmented nucleus by Hoechst staining, no deoxyribonucleic acid laddering effect was observed. In response to the extract treatment, the tumor suppressor protein, p53, was induced in U2OS but not in U251 and WI-38 cells. A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21WAF1, was induced in transformed cells only. The study suggests that the bark extract of medicinal plant, T. arjuna, has components that can induce growth arrest of transformed cells by p53-dependent and -independent pathways.

We determined the antimutagenicity of phenolic fractions of Terminalia arjuna (soluble and insoluble in chloroform) against two direct-acting mutagens, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD) and sodium azide, and against the S9-dependent mutagen 2-aminofluorene (2AF), in TA98 and TA100 tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium. We found that the phenolic fractions of T. arjuna inhibited revertants induced by the S9-dependent mutagen more remarkably than the direct-acting mutagens. Furthermore, the phenolic fractions showed maximum inhibition of 98% and 101.55%, respectively, in the pre-incubation mode of treatment against the mutations induced by 2AF. Overall, the fractions inhibited the revertants induced by S9-dependent mutagens more effectively than those induced by direct-acting mutagens. The percentage of inhibition was higher in the pre-incubation than with direct acting mutagens. The fraction insoluble in chloroform showed more inhibition than the soluble one, which corresponds to a higher polyphenol content in the insoluble fraction than in the soluble extract.

Compounds possessing antimutagenic properties (polyphenols, tannins, vitamins, etc.) have been identified in fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants. Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae), a tropical woody tree occurring throughout India and known locally as Kumbuk, is a medicinal plant rich in tannins and triterpenes that is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine as a cardiac tonic. The aim of the present collaborative work was to test six solvent extracts from the bark of Terminalia arjuna for antigenotoxic activity using in vitro short-term tests. Terminalia arjuna extracts were obtained by sequential extraction using acetone, methanol, methanol + HCl, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethyl ether. The antigenotoxic properties of these extracts were investigated by assessing the inhibition of genotoxicity of the directacting mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) using the "comet" assay and the micronucleus (MN) test. Human peripheral blood leukocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the six extracts (from 5 to 100 microg/ mL) and with 4NQO (1 and 2 microg/mL, for the "comet" assay and MN test, respectively). Each extract/4NQO combination was tested twice; in each experiment, positive control (4NQO alone) and negative control (1% DMSO) were set. "Comet" assay results showed that acetone and methanol extracts were highly effective in reducing the DNA damage caused by 4NQO, whereas the acidic methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethyl ether extracts showed less marked or no antigenotoxic activity. In the MN test, a decrease in 4NQO genotoxicity was observed by testing this mutagen in the presence of acetone, methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts, even though the extent of inhibition was not always statistically significant.

A new ursane triterpene, torment (2 α,3 β,19 α-trihydroxyurs-12-en) (1), was isolated from the fruits of Terminalia arjuna along with four known ursane and oleane triterpenes. The structures were established on the basis of extensive NMR (1D & 2D) and MS (EI & ESI) studies. Tormentic acid (2), 19α-hydroxy asiatic acid (3) and olean-12-en-2 α,3 β-diol (4) were isolated for the first time from this species. Compounds 1 and 2 lacked significant enzyme inhibition, cytotoxicity, immunomodulatory and antiglycation activities.

The structure of a new triterpene glucoside, arjunglucoside III, isolated from Terminalia arjuna was found to be β-D-glucopyranosyl 2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-11-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate.

CHROMATOGRAPHIC and spectrophotometric properties of ellagic acid have now been investigated in order to facilitate the identification of this acid in plant extracts and hydrolysates. In early studies, ellagic acid has not always been adequately characterized; but the present work has confirmed the occurrence of this substance in a wide range of dicotyledonous plants1. Ellagic acid has also been identified in Terminalia arjuna, bellirica, citrina, pallida and travencoriensis for the first time.

This paper presents evidence-based results of clinical trial on the use of nanosized particles in homoeopathic Terminalia arjuna tincture. Dynamic light scattering technique demonstrates that homoeopathic tincture is a mixture of particles varying from micron to nanometre sizes. The process of succussion, homogenization and filtration brings down the particles of source material to nanosize as a ‘top-down’ process. As compared to the conventionally used micron-sized T. arjuna powder, the results show significant clinical improvement due to the presence of nanoparticles in tincture by the above method. Similar results were reconfirmed on experiments with bacterial cultures. From clinical trials, it has been confirmed that the dose of medicine required by the patient is significantly reduced with the reduction in particle size. No toxicity was observed even after giving medicine for more than 8 weeks. Size-dependent sensitivity of the drug can help to tackle the problem of drug resistance in bacteria.