ABSTRACT

Terminalia chebula RETZ. (Combretaceae), a native plant in India and Southeast Asia commonly known as Haritaki has been reported to exhibit a variety of biological activities. In the present study, aqueous extract of  Terminalia chebula and its combination with Gaumutra were investigated for anti-hyperlipidemic activity in Sprague-dawley rats.  Hyperlipidemia was induced by giving high cholesterol diet (2% cholesterol, 1% sodium cholate and 2% coconut oil) for thirty days in standard rat chow diet. Rats on high cholesterol diet showed significant increase (p<0.05) in serum and tissue cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, triglyceride, atherogenic index and decrease HDL-C levels. Treatment with Terminalia chebula (300mg/kg, p.o) and its combination with Gaumutra (30mg/kg, p.o) showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum and tissue serum and tissue cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, triglyceride, atherogenic index and increase HDL-C levels. Histological study showed that  Terminalia. chebula caused decrease in aortic plaque and fatty liver formation but its combination with Gaumutra showed no significant effect in aorta and liver as compared to high cholesterol diet fed rats. Thus Terminalia. chebula and  its combination with Gaumutra both are effective as an antihyperlipidemic agent.