TERMINALIA ARJUNA - AN AYURVEDIC CARDIOTONIC, REGULATES LIPID-METABOLISM IN HYPERLIPEMIC RATS

The lipid lowering action of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) has been studied in triton and cholesterol fed rats. Serum lip ids were found to be lowered by T. arjuna (100 mg/kg, b.w.) in triton induced hyperlipaemia. Chronic feeding of this powder (100 mg/kg, b.w. , p.o.) in animals simultaneously fed with cholesterol (25 mg/kg, b.w. ) for 30 days, caused lowering in lipids and protein levels of beta-li poproteins followed by an increase in high density lipoprotein-cholest erol compared with the cholesterol fed groups, T. arjuna alters lipoly tic activities in plasma, liver, heart and adipose tissues of hyperlip aemic rats, The lipid lowering action of this natural product is media ted through inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis, increased faecal bile acid excretion and enhanced plasma lecithin:cholesterol ac yltransferase activity and stimulation of receptor mediated catabolism of low density lipoprotein.