Evaluation and Phytochemical Screening of Antihyperlipidemic Activity of Terminalia Arjuna
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia arjuna extract against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental animals. The liver plays a central role in metabolism and detoxification, making it highly susceptible to injury caused by excessive exposure to hepatotoxic agents. Paracetamol-induced hepatic injury is associated with the formation of the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), depletion of hepatic glutathione, oxidative stress, and subsequent hepatocellular damage. Therefore, the present investigation was designed to assess whether T. arjuna extract could attenuate the biochemical alterations produced by paracetamol administration. Experimental animals were divided into five groups, with six animals in each group. Group I served as the normal control and received vehicle treatment, while Group II served as the toxic control and received paracetamol. Group III received paracetamol along with the standard hepatoprotective drug silymarin. Groups IV and V received paracetamol along with T. arjuna extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Following the experimental treatment, serum biochemical parameters were evaluated to determine the extent of hepatic injury and the protective effect of the extract. The parameters assessed included serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT/AST), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT/ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and total protein. Paracetamol administration produced marked alterations in the hepatic biochemical profile. The toxic control group showed substantial increases in SGOT/AST, SGPT/ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin levels, together with a reduction in total serum protein compared with the normal control group. These changes indicated significant hepatocellular injury and impairment of hepatic functional activity. Treatment with silymarin substantially reversed the paracetamol-induced biochemical changes, confirming its hepatoprotective effect in the experimental model. Administration of T. arjuna extract at 200 mg/kg produced significant improvement in the altered biochemical parameters compared with the toxic control group. A greater degree of protection was observed following administration of the 400 mg/kg dose. The higher dose reduced the elevated serum SGOT/AST, SGPT/ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin levels and improved the decreased total protein concentration toward normal values. The dose-dependent improvement suggests that T. arjuna extract may exert a protective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. The hepatoprotective activity of T. arjuna may be associated with its diverse phytochemical constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoid constituents, which may contribute to antioxidant and hepatocellular protective effects. These constituents may help reduce oxidative damage, preserve cellular membrane integrity, and support normal hepatic function. However, the precise molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed hepatoprotective effect require further investigation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Terminalia arjuna extract possesses promising hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in experimental animals. The 400 mg/kg dose exhibited greater biochemical protection than the 200 mg/kg dose and showed an overall improvement in the evaluated liver function parameters. Further studies involving hepatic histopathology, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, quantitative phytochemical characterization, and isolation of active constituents are warranted to establish the mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective activity of T. arjuna. Keywords: Terminalia arjuna, paracetamol, hepatotoxicity, hepatoprotective activity, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, total protein, silymarin.
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225618188
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