Effect of Terminalia chebula Fruits on Lipid Profiles of Rats

Objective: To study the effect of Terminalia chebula on serum lipids in hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: The hypolipidemic action of T. chebula has been studied in normal rats and in atherogenic (cholesterol containing) diet induced hyperlipidemic albino rats. Results: In atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemic model, the rats receiving alcoholic extract of immature (IMF), mature (MF) fruits and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (immature fruits) of T. chebula treatment showed marked reduction in total cholesterol (TC) (p<0.05), total triglyceride (TG) (p<0.001), total protein (TP) (p<0.001) and elevation in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.001). In normocholesterolemic model, the feeding of ethanolic extract (immature fruits) lowered the levels of TC, TG, TP and increased level of HDL-C. Conclusions: The ethanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction were found to possess significant hypolipidemic activity. The most active extract of T. chebula is ethyl acetate fraction of immature fruits, which was able to bring high serum lipid to normal level. The present study brings forth the efficacy of < as a hypolipidemic agent.