Botanical description –
- Plant: Deciduous tree, 20-30 m tall, with a buttressed trunk and a wide spreading crown.
- Bark: Grayish-brown, smooth, exfoliating in thin irregular sheets.
- Leaves: Simple, opposite, oblong-lanceolate, 10-15 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, green above, pale brown below.
- Flowers: Small, white, borne in spikes or panicles.
- Fruit: Drupe, 2.5-5 cm long, dark brown to reddish-brown, fibrous woody, with five hard, projecting wings.
Arjuna is found in a variety of habitats in India, including forests, woodlands, and scrublands. It is also cultivated in other parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.
The bark of the Arjuna tree is used in traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, to treat a variety of conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The bark contains a number of active compounds, including Flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. These compounds have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.
Chemical constituents:
- Flavonoids: Arjuna bark is particularly rich in flavonoids, which are plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the flavonoids found in Arjuna bark include arjunolone, luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol.
- Tannins: Tannins are another type of plant compound that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Arjuna bark contains a variety of tan- nins, including gallic acid, ellagic acid, and catechins.
- Saponins: Saponins are plant compounds that have foaming and deter- gent properties. They are also known for their antioxidant and anti-in- flammatory properties. Some of the saponins found in Arjuna bark include quillaia saponins and astragalin saponins.
- Triterpenoids: Triterpenoids are a type of plant compound that is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Some of the triter- penoids found in Arjuna bark include betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid.
- Other constituents: Arjuna bark also contains other constituents, such as amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
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