Terminalia arjun, commonly called arjuna, is a plant that belongs to the Combretaceae (mangrove) family. Extracts of the plant are believed to have antimicrobial, anti-mutagenic and anthelmintic effects. Evidence also suggests that Terminalia arjun may have significant mood elevating effects. For example, in one study, researchers administered Terminalia arjuna bark extract to mice and exposed them to experimental stress designed to cause negative behavioural effects in the mice. In a dose dependent manner the Terminalia arjuna extract was significantly able to reduce the anxious behaviour of the mice suggesting that it may have conferred anxiolytic effects. Measurements of genes expression showed that the Terminalia arjuna extract was able to upregulate a number of genes in the mice including brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), proteins relating to the GABA neurotransmitter system as well as antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.
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