Terminalia Arjuna
Pictures Of Cardio-Protective Herb
Welcome To Terminalia Arjuna - This ayurvedic herb is cardio-protective, cardiac tonic and cardiac stimulant, anti-hypertensive, anti-ischemic. See the herb pictures of this medicinal herb. The pictures of various medicinal parts as well as whole herb pictures and description of this medicinal plant is presented.
Habitat:
This ayurvedic herb is especially seen in Himalayan forests, Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh of India. It is commonly found in dry hill areas in the form of rows of several plants by the side of water bodies - rivers, streams and ravines. It is also planted in many parts of India for shade and for ornamental purposes. It thrives best on loose moist, fertile alluvial loams and light deep sandy soils, often overlying more or less impervious rock. The soil should have ample water supplies but should normally be well-drained. The soil under this tree becomes rich in calcium as the leaves are rich in this element.
The Plant:
This tree is about 60-80 feet in height. The tree of Arjuna is large, evergreen with a spreading crown and drooping branches.
Bark Of Terminalia arjuna:
It is simple, grey and smooth on external surface. The bark is thick, soft and of red color from inside.
The Leaves:
Leaves are like that of Guava leaves - oblong, 4-6 inch long and 2-3 inch wide, subopposite, glabrous and often inequilateral. There are two glands near the base of the petiole. The margin is crenulate with apex at obtuse or subacute angle. The base is rounded or cordate. Petioles run for 0.5 to 1.3 cm.
Flowers:
White or yellowish flowers are found in groups. Flowering occurs in summer and fruits appear in winter or spring season.
Fruits:
The fruits are 1-1.5 inch in diameter and with 5-7 longitudinal lobes. These are glabrous with five to seven wings, woody and fibrous. Fruit is drupe and is often notched near the top, marked with oblique upward curving striations.
Artificial Propagation:
Terminalia arjuna could be grown artificially through seeds, coppicing, pollarding, root-suckers, stumps and air-layering. It grows slowly in the initial phase but later on it grows fast. It attains 2–3 m height in three years. Arjun yields up to 45 kg dry bark chips on a three year cycle without injury.
Seed Collection & Storage:
Ripe fruits are collected in March either by lopping the branches or from the ground previously swept clean. The seeds are viable for at least one year when stored in sealed tins.
Seed Biology:
No. of fruits per Kg.
Germination percentage (Untreated seeds)
Germination percentage (Treated seeds)
Plant percent
No. of seedlings per Kg. of seed
175 to 1,450
50 to 60
90
35 to 50
60 to 255
Pharmacologically Active Species Of Terminalia arjuna:
Three researchers in 1930, Caius, Mhaskar and Isaac found that there was great variability in forms of bark of Terminalia arjuna. There were at least 15 different varieties. The bark of these varieties are so similar in appearance that they are commonly mistaken for each other.
These researchers studied the pharmacological actions of all the barks separately - in hot infusion, decoction and alcoholic extracts of dried barks. The conclusion of their report found pharmacologically active forms.
Mild Diuretics: Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia pullida.
Fairly Potent Cardiac Stimulants: T. bialata, T. coriacea, T. pyrifolia
Both Diuretic and Cardiac Stimulants: T. arjuna, T. catappa, T. chebula, T. citrina, T. myrocarpa, T. oliveri, T. paniculata, T. tomentosa
However the need for further study was felt at that time to confirm these results.
http://www.holistic- herbalist.com/terminalia-arjun a-3.html
Answered by
radhakrishna
, an ibibo Advisor,
at
10:44 AM on April 29, 2008
