An Experimental Evaluation of Anti-stress Effects of Terminalia chebula

Background: The fruit of Terminalia chebula (Combretaceae) has been used as traditional medicine against various human ailments, and has been extensively used in Ayurved, Uanai and Homeopathic medicine. The fruit was one of the Ayurvedic herbs used for the adaptogenic/anti-stress potential. The objective of the study was to investigate anti-stress activity of ethanolic extract of T. chebula fruits. Methods: Anti-stress activity was evaluated in various animal models, namely anoxia stress tolerance and forced swimming test in mice, as well as cold resistant stress and immobilization test in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) and Swiss albino mice (25-30 g) were used in the study. Withania somnifera powder was taken as reference drug. The vehicle (1 ml/100 g), W. somnifera (100 mg/kg) and T. chebula (200 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) were administered orally 1 hour prior to study. Results: The ethanolic extracts of T. chebula significantly increased the swim endurance and anoxia stress tolerance time. Cold resistant stress and immobilization stress altered the various biochemical parameters like glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma corticosterone, blood cell count (RBC and WBC) and weight of organs like liver, spleen, testis, and adrenal glands. The extract reduced stress-induced elevated levels of serum biochemical parameters, blood cell count, prevented alterations in the weight of the liver, adrenal gland and increased the weight of the spleen. Conclusion: T. chebula exhibited anti-stress activity by preventing stress-induced elevated levels of biochemical and hematological changes and the alteration in organ weights. J Physiol Biomed Sci. 2011; 24(2): 13-19