ABSTRACT
Aim:To study the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Terminalia chebulain rats.Study Design:Hyperlipidemia was induced by administering doxorubicin and the effect of Terminalia chebulawas studied in male and female rats.Methodology:Three doses of hydroalcoholic extract of Terminalia chebula(0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 gm/kg, body weight, per orally for 28 days) was tested against the doxorubicin (0.25 mg/kg, intra-peritoneal, 6 doses for 12 days) in male and female rats. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) were estimated. The antioxidant effect was determined by estimating the serum peroxidation levels. The result of the data was analyzed statistically by One-way Anova followed by Bonferroni comparison test. p<0.05 was considered to indicate the significance of the results.Results and Discussion: The data indicated that a dose-dependent significant (p<0.05) reversal was observed in the doxorubicin-induced elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and diminished HDL-cholesterol upon treatment with Terminalia chebulain male rats. In the female rats, only the highest tested doseof Terminalia chebula(1 gm/kg) produced the inhibitory effect in the elevated lipid levels without affecting significantly the HDL-cholesterol activity. Further, when Terminalia chebulawas tested separately at 0.5 g before and after the administration of doxorubicin, a significant inhibition was observed in the post treatment in both sexes. Serum lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly (p<0.05) reduced by the extract compared to the doxorubicin group. Conclusion:The results suggest that Terminalia chebulaextract might have the potential to reduce doxorubicin-induced hyperlipidemic complications if administered together or after thedoxorubicin therapy