Unlocking the secrets of <i>Terminalia arjuna</i> : Exploring its essential oil, health benefits, and antimicrobial potential

Abstract The medicinal plant Terminalia arjuna ( T. arjuna ) is an ancient plant mentioned in Ayurveda for multiple health benefits that are truly attributable to the vast phytochemistry of the plant. This review renders an insight into the potential of T. arjuna in terms of its oil, medicinal efficacy, and antimicrobial traits. The bark, roots, leaves, and fruits of the plant are rich in polyphenols, sterols, tannins, triterpenoids, and flavonoids, all of which together exert therapeutic effects. It possesses antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cardioprotective activities, thus enabling this plant to play multiple roles in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Common methods to extract the essential oils of T. arjuna include steam distillation, hydrodistillation, and solvent extraction. The essential oil composition is characterized by the presence of compounds such as carvacrol, thymol, furfural, and isoeugenol, which are believed to contribute to the therapeutic potential. Therefore, the present review would place focus on the prospective therapeutic potential of T. arjuna in terms of gathering interest for further research intended for antibiotic resistance management and promoting well-being.