In a 2014 meta-analysis of 2 small randomized controlled trials (RCTs), arjuna was as effective as prescription medication for 4 outcomes (e.g., exercise duration) in stable angina, though the study’s quality was poor. In one of the trials, arjuna was more effective than a placebo.[1] In the other trial, there was no placebo group to compare to.[2]
When compared to a placebo in RCTs or randomized crossover trials (most of which were small), arjuna improved cardiac functioning. For example, the left ventricular ejection fraction percentage (LVEF%), mitral regurgitation, diastolic function, the frequency of angina attacks, fatigue, and quality of life were improved in participants with conditions like congestive heart failure[3][4][5] and in participants without health conditions.[6] Arjuna’s effects have not been completely consistent across trials, because it did not improve LVEF%, walking speed, and quality of life in 1 RCT.[7]
Arjuna has inconsistently improved other outcomes associated with cardiovascular disease. For example, blood pressure, markers of inflammation (e.g., C-reactive protein), and blood lipids (e.g., triglycerides) were improved in 1 of 2 RCTs each.[8][6][7][9][10]
In addition, in 1 small before-and-after study, arjuna supplementation was associated with improvements in chronic venous insufficiency. It is difficult to say how much of a true effect arjuna might have had, because the participants performed other treatments, such as walking and leg massage, and there was no control group.[11]