Antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree-bark powder: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark (a popular cardiotonic substance in Indian pharmacopoeia) and to compare it with a known antioxidant, vitamin E, we performed a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: One hundred and five successive patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) presenting to our centre were recruited and using a Latin-square design divided into 3 groups of 35 each. The groups were matched for age, lifestyle and dietary variables, clinical diagnosis and drug treatment status. None of the patients was on lipid-lowering drugs. Supplemental vitamins were stopped for one month before study began and American Heart Association Step II dietary advice was given to all. At baseline, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol and lipid peroxide estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined. Group I received placebo capsules; Group II vitamin E capsules 400 units/day; and Group III received finely pulverized T. arjuna tree bark-powder (500 mg) in capsules daily. Lipids and lipid peroxide levels were determined at 30 days follow-up. RESULTS: Response rate in various groups varied from 86% to 91%. No significant changes in total, HDL, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels were seen in Groups I and II (paired t-test p > 0.05). In Group III there was a significant decrease in total cholesterol (-9.7 +/- 12.7%), and LDL cholesterol (-15.8 +/- 25.6%) (paired t-test p < 0.01). Lipid peroxide levels decreased significantly in both the treatment groups (p < 0.01). This decrease was more in vitamin E group (-36.4 +/- 17.7%) as compared to the T. arjuna group (-29.3 +/- 18.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Terminalia arjuna tree bark powder has significant antioxidant action that is comparable to vitamin E. In addition, it also has a significant hypocholesterolaemic effect.

Hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark.

Diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rabbits were given 50% ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna tree bark in doses of 100 mg/kg (Group B, n = 6) and 500 mg/kg (Group C, n = 6) and compared with controls (Group A). At 60 days of intervention in Groups A, B and C mean +/- S.E.M. total cholesterol was 574 +/- 61, 320 +/- 29 and 217 +/- 44 mg/dl, respectively (P < 0.01); LDL cholesterol was 493 +/- 57, 271 +/- 30 and 162 +/- 44 mg/dl (P < 0.01); HDL cholesterol was 59 +/- 7, 36 +/- 3 and 35 +/- 4 mg/dl (P = n.s.); triglyceride was 108 +/- 13, 67 +/- 6 and 101 +/- 26 mg/dl (P = n.s.); cholesterol/HDL ratio was 10.1 +/- 1.3, 9.2 +/- 1.1 and 6.1 +/- 1.0 (P = n.s.); and LDL/HDL ratio was 8.7 +/- 1.3, 7.8 +/- 1.1 and 4.5 +/- 1.0 (P < 0.01). The extract did not adversely affect biochemical tests of liver and renal function and haematological parameters.

Hypolipidaemic effect of Myristica fragrans fruit extract in rabbits.

The ethanolic extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) was studied in albino rabbits for its effects on experimentally induced hyperlipidaemia. After inducing hyperlipidaemia in 12 rabbits a dose of 500 mg/kg of the extract was administered orally daily for a period of 60 days in 6 rabbits (experimental group); the rest of the rabbits were observed as controls. When compared with the control of rabbits the levels of lipoprotein lipids were significantly lower in the experimental group after 60 days; total cholesterol 573 +/- 61 vs. 209 +/- 27 mg/dl, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 493 +/- 57 vs. 131 +/- 25 mg/dl, and triglycerides 108 +/- 14 vs. 67 +/- 9 mg/dl P < 0.001). High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were not significantly different (59 +/- 7 vs. 65 +/- 4 mg/dl, P = n.s.). Total cholesterol:HDL ratio and LDL:HDL ratio were significantly lower in the experimental group. The Myristica fragrans extract showed platelet anti-aggregatory ability. There were significantly lower levels of total cholesterol in heart (3.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.5 mg/100 g) and liver (11.9 +/- 1 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4 mg/100 g). The toxicity studies showed absence of any adverse effects on various haematological and biochemical parameters.

Zinc and copper concentrations in the hair of workers from zinc based industries in India.

Some trace elements have been identified as potential hazards following long term exposure, and recently there has been intense work on different elemental exposure studies. Hair being the most convenient biopsy material has enabled the study of these elements in the human body and periodic sampling provides rates for their uptake. The present study has been done to compare the concentration of zinc and copper in human hair of the workers from the zinc based industry at Udaipur. The study shows that the concentration of zinc is higher in smelter workers than in the population of Udaipur city; the value of zinc in the mine workers is close to that of Udaipur city subjects. However, the correlation between the two elements is significant at p less than 0.01 for zinc mine workers.

"Studies on identification of 'vaikranta' used in ayurveda".

Of the several of minerals used in Ayurveda practice as Vaikranta, the most commonly used were procured from reputed Ayurveda pharmacies all over India and those responding to physical characteristics of Vaikranta as mentioned in Ayurveda texts were subjected to physical, chemical and spectral analysis. X-ray diffraction study of Schorlite was undertaken to conform mineral constitutions of the materials.

Gastric responses to flupenthixol, a new thioxanthene derivative in rats.

Flupenthixol, a new thioxanthene derivative, was studied for its effects on gastric secretion and gastric ulcers in rats. The compound diminished the volume of gastric secretion, decreased total acid output and protected the glandular gastric mucosa. The observations may be of clinical significance.

Effect of SAS (a new 10-N-acylaminophenothiazine) on gastric secretion and ulceration in rats.

The antiulcer and antisecretory activity of 2-chloro-10-[4'(N-beta-hydroxyethyl) piperazinyl-1'] acetylphenothiazine (SAS) has been investigated. At 10 and 20 mg/kg (s.c.) the drug was found to possess potent antigastric secretory and antiulcer activity (both in shay and stress ulcers) and did not exhibit any peripheral parasympathetic blocking activity. The pronounced antispasmodic activity of SAS was nonspecific rather than a specific parasympatholytic effect.

The effect of drugs on stress-induced changes of myocardial glycogen and blood glucose concentration in rats.

Rats that were subjected to restraint stress for 18 h were found to have reduced myocardial glycogen and blood sugar levels and showed histological changes in heart and adrenals. The effects of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, alpha-methyl-dopa, disulfiram and actinomycin D on these stress-induced changes were examined. Of these drugs, only alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine was able to prevent the fall in myocardial glycogen and blood sugar and none of the drugs prevented the histological changes induced by stress.