Therapeutic potential and industrial applications of Terminalia arjuna bark.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arnot (Combretaceae) is one of the most frequently used medicinal trees in Indian traditional medicinal systems. It is used for the treatment of a variety of diseases including cardiovascular disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the phytochemistry, medicinal uses, toxicity, and industrial applications of T. arjuna bark (BTA), as well as to identify gaps in research and applications of this important tree. It also aimed to analyze trends and future research paths to utilize the full potential of this tree. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extensive bibliographic research on the T. arjuna tree was carried out using scientific research engines and databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science, covering all relevant English-language articles. The database "World Flora Online (WFO)" (http://www.worldfloraonline.org) was used to confirm plant taxonomy. RESULTS: To date, BTA has been traditionally employed for several disorders such as snakebites, scorpion stings, gleets, earaches, dysentery, sexual disorders, and urinary tract infections along with the cardioprotective activity. About 38 phytocompounds were identified from BTA and were classified as triterpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, and glycosides. A wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects of BTA were reported such as anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, and wound healing activities. The oral administration of BTA (500 mg/kg) per day did not result in any toxicity in humans. The in vivo acute and sub-acute toxicity analysis of the methanol extract of BTA and one of its major compounds, 7-methyl gallate, did not produce any adverse effects up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive review highlights various aspects of traditional knowledge, phytochemicals, and pharmacological significance of BTA. The review covered safety information on employing BTA in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Despite its long history of medicinal benefit, more studies are needed to understand the molecular mechanisms, structure-activity relationship, and potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of its phytocompounds, drug administration, drug-drug interactions, and toxicological effects.

Antihypertensive activity of phytocompounds from selected medicinal plants via inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) protein: an in-silico approach.

Hypertension has been a significant cause of death due to elevated blood pressure worldwide. The results of molecular docking showed out of selected 40 compounds, chasmanthin (-11.05 kcal/mol), and palmarin (-11.22 kcal/mol) showed strong binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) target. The inhibitory action of the selected phytocompounds for ACE protein was also validated by comparing it with the reference drugs, lisinopril (-9.42 kcal/mol), and enalapril (-5.07 kcal/mol). MD simulations study of 100 ns also demonstrated stability of chasmanthin, and palmarin within the active sites of ACE protein. Molecular mechanics generalised born surface area (MMGBSA) analysis of MD trajectories exhibited significant binding of palmarin with ACE (dG Bind= -38.65 ± 2.59 kcal/mol) and chasmanthin (dG Bind= -37.64 ± 2.67 kcal/mol). Drug likeness and pharmacokinetics properties of palmarin and chasmanthin was also found to be permissible, thereby suggesting the use of chasmanthin and palmarin as a novel target inhibitor against ACE protein to combat hypertension.