Biological Activities, Medicinal Uses, and Nutritional Effects of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn.: Phytochemical Insights and Therapeutic Benefits in Ulcerative Colitis Management-A Detailed Review.

Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn, a medicinal tree, is extensively utilized in traditional Ayurvedic medicinal systems due to its pharmacological properties, predominantly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-modulatory, and cardio-protective. However, its therapeutic potential in the management of ulcerative colitis (UC) is relatively less explored; therefore, this review was conducted to extensively evaluate the effect of T. arjuna and its phytoconstituents, like flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoids, in the management of UC. Preclinical studies reveal that T. arjuna extracts and bioactive compounds, notably arjunolic acid, attenuate colonic inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant defense, restoring mucosal barrier integrity, and gut microbiota composition. Moreover, its cyto-protective and free-radical scavenging activities further enhance its adequacy for gastro-protection. Furthermore, the pharmacological attributes suggest that it can play a promising role in food-based interventions and gut-health targeted products, significantly contributing to lowering inflammation. It is reported that T. arjuna-enriched food products are effective towards plant-based, natural therapies for chronic disorders, particularly UC. Despite various studies targeting its medicinal roles, the gastro-protective and anti-colitis potential of T. arjuna remains clinically underexplored, with preclinical evidence providing a promising but incomplete foundation. This review provides insights into existing data on therapeutic effects of T. arjuna in the management of UC and gastrointestinal health.