Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn (Arjuna) ,family Combretacecae , a large deciduous tree commonly found through out country is widely used in folks and Ayurvedic system of medicine. Its stem bark and leaves contains glycosides, flavones, tannins and large amount of Calcium salts. Various properties of T. arjuna, described in folks and Ayurveda like Hridrognasak, Kapha-medo vishoshan, Vrana ropak, Bhagn sandhankar, Pramehghan, Stambhak, Kantida, Rakt-pittahar, Balya etc. are acquiring scientific validity through modern researches. Scientific studies shows that its bark containing ionotropic , hypotensive effect, increasing coronary artery flow, hypolipidemic ,anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-diarrhoeal, wound heeling and osteoblastic properties. In this review an attempt has been made to discuss various aspects of Arjuna like ethnobotanical, pharmacognostical, phytochemical, pharmacological and its clinical relevance in various ailments.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Terminalia arjuna , glycosides , ethnobotany, pharmacognosy, therapeutics.