An Experimental Study to Evaluate Hypolipidemic Effect of Terminalia arjuna on High Fat Diet Induced Dyslipidaemia in Wistar Rat

Introduction: Hyperlipidaemia is a well-established cardiovascular disease risk factor. Different medications are used to regulate dyslipidaemia. Efficacy and safety are questionable on treatment with lipid lowering drug for long period. Need of time is to search for new lead compound from phytoconstituents of plants which is equal in potency and efficacy with present oral hypolipidemic drug but with fewer side effects. Terminalia arjuna has hypolipidemic properties therefore this research is designed to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of Terminalia arjuna on high-fat diet induced dyslipidaemia in Wistar rats. Methods: An experimental study was done. Total 36 Wistar rats divided into 6 group randomly. Group I given normal pellet diet. In remaining group dyslipidaemia induced by high fat diet given for four weeks. Group II (dyslipidaemia control) was given high fat diet. Group III, IV were given Terminalia arjuna 250 and 500mg/kg per oral and group V, VI were given Rosuvastatin 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg per oral for 8weeks. Blood samples withdrawn by retro-orbital puncture and analysed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL by commercial kits. LDL, VLDL calculated by friedewald formula. ANOVA followed by post hoc analysis used for statistical analysis. Results: Terminalia arjuna showed reduction of total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL level at both doses and intergroup comparison were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) at end of treatment. The change with Terminalia arjuna(500mg/kg) in total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL was comparable with Rosuvastatin(10mg/kg). Conclusion: Terminalia arjuna has substantial Hypolipidemic activity as it decreases total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, LDL in dyslipidaemia rat thus it has promising role in treatment of hyperlipidaemia.