Harnessing Terminalia arjuna in Next Generation Phytomedicine: Cutting Edge Nutraceutical Trends Shaping Food and Health.

Abstract

Phytomedicines are increasingly favored as alternatives to modern treatment due to their enhanced efficacy and cultural relevance in preserving traditional healing knowledge while supporting sustainable healthcare practices. Among them, Terminalia arjuna stands out as a widely consumed dietary and Ayurvedic remedy. This review explores the pharmacological evidence for T. arjuna and its relevance to food science and toxicology, unveiling its molecular mechanisms in health and disease. They target the axis of p53-PARP mediated apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress mechanisms, mitochondrial integrity, and TGF-β mediated remodeling processes. T. arjuna's major bioactive constituents like arjunic acid, arjunolic acid, and casuarinin, to name a few, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, renal, and liver-protective capacities. In this work, we critically evaluate the strength of preclinical versus clinical evidence and identify the gaps in bioavailability, safety, and herb-drug interaction data, beyond its pharmacological profile, to establish T. arjuna's translational potential. This study further explores T. arjuna as a candidate for modern nutraceutical and functional food development while highlighting the need for future validations before its full potential is confirmed.