Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical studies and Evaluation of Hypolipidemic activity of Fruits of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) wight & Arn (Combretaceae)

Though there are several allopathic medicines available, people still rely on nature which has blessed human kind with abundant medicinal plants for prevention and cure of disease. Hyperlipidemia is one of the greatest risk factors in the manifestation and development of atherosclerosis and Cardiac Heart Disease (CHD). The available allopathic drugs though effective, have several side effects. Medicinal plants are also known to play a major role in treatment of Hyperlipidemia. Large number of plants have been traditionally used in the treatment of Hyperlipidemia. Therefore, the study is an attempt to evaluate the folklore claims of Terminalia arjuna for the treatment of Hyperlipidemia. The review on literature showed works has been done on this plant and still no hypolipidemic activity of fruit has been reported so far. The project entitled Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical studies and Evaluation of hypolipidemic activity of fruits of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn Combretaceae has been achieved with the following results. Macroscopical studies states the characteristic features of Terminalia arjuna fruits is a fibrous woody drupe, oblong to ovoid, 2.5 to 4.5 cm long, dark brown to reddish brown coloured externally, cut surface is light brown coloured internally and other morphological characters has been well studied. Microscopic investigations are the diagnostic features and its powder analysis helps to distinguish this particular plant (fruit) in whole form and in crude powder form. Microscopical analysis in Terminalia arjuna showed the presence of epicarp, middle mesocarp and inner endocarp, seed, Radicle, middle cortex and inner pith region along with Spongy parenchyma, Reticulate parenchyma, Vascular bundle, Oil globules, Aleurone grains, Cluster crystals, Endosperm and Vascular strands. The above findings help to bring the identity of the fruit by both morphologically and anatomically. Various physicochemical constants were evaluated for the fruits of Terminalia arjuna such as ash values, extractive values, loss on drying, swelling index, foaming index. These values were found to be within the standard limits. This helps in confirming the identity and purity of this plant and to detect adulterants and its nature. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were carried out to identify inorganic elements present in the plant. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of toxic heavy metals like Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead were carried out which revealed that the elements were within the WHO limits and ensure the safety of the drug. The phytochemical studies on the fruits of Terminalia arjuna were carried out to bring its importance as a valuable medicinal plant. The total ethanolic extract was carried out using Soxhlet apparatus. The percentage yield of ethanolic extract was 6.23% w/w. The plant powder and extract were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis. The preliminary screening reveals the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, terpenoids, tannin, saponins and sterols. Quantification of phytoconstituents were done for flavonoids and phenolic compounds by UV spectroscopy method. Fluorescence analysis was carried out to detect the fluorescent chromophore present in the powder and the extracts. No fluorescence was detected for the powder and extracts. Thin layer chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography were performed for ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna fruit. Chromatographic studies revealed the various Rf values, which ensures the various phytoconstituents were present in the ethanolic extract. In vitro hypolipidemic activity was done by using HMG – CoA reductase inhibition assay method. It possess the significant hypolipidemic as compared to standard atorvastatin drug. In Silico inhibition of the enzyme HMG – CoA by the constituents of Terminalia arjuna were performed to evaluate the hypolipidemic potential using molecular docking studies. The In-Silico studies revealed that 5 compounds such as Arjunic acid, Arjungenin, Arjunolic acid, beta sitosterol and Terminic acid possessed significant binding energy compared than standard atorvastatin drug. Hence from the studies it was concluded that the fruits of Terminalia arjuna possess significant anti Hypolipidemic activity. This investigation has a potential to be developed further into natural hypolipidemic drug. Further studies are focused on in-vivo pharmacological activity and isolation of phytoconstituents and its structural relationship which is responsible for hypolipidemic activity