To Compare the Effects of Terminalia Arjuna with Rosuvastatin on Total Cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Background:In India, CVD is a leading cause of death. Among the modifiable risk factors, hyperlipidemia is one of the important factors. Therefore lowering cholesterol level is a key factor in controlling this disease.

Objectives: To compare the effect of Terminalia arjuna, an indigenous drug with Rosuvastatin on serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, in patients of either sex with dyslipidemia.

Material and Methods: An open prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in on 60 patients for the duration of 12 weeks. Patients were distributed into two groups of 30 patients each. Group I was given Rosuvastatin 10 mg daily and group II was given capsules containing bark powder of T.arjuna 500 mg twice daily. Patients TC and LDL-C levels were performed at baseline and then repeated at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks. The results of both the therapies were then compared and statistically analyzed.

Results: T.arjuna leads to greater reduction in mean TC level than Rosuvastatin (-14.06±8.07% vs -10.10±5.39%), (- 24.73±10.69% vs -19.42±9.98%) and (-27.89±9.25% vs - 24.74±10.02%) at 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively. The difference between both the groups was statistically non-significant (p>0.05) at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The reduction in mean LDL-C level was also greater with T.arjuna as compared to Rosuvastatin.

Conclusion: Both Rosuvastatin and T.arjuna were effective in causing significant decrease in serum TC and LDLC levels, but T.arjuna had a slight edge over Rosuvastatin as it showed greater reduction in TC and LDL-C levels as compare to Rosuvastatin. And was found to be safe and well tolerated.