Diminishing effect of arjuna tree (Terminalia arjuna) bark on the lipid and oxidative stress status of high fat high cholesterol fed rats and development of certain dietary recipes containing the tree bark for human consumption

Abstract

It’s a fast changing world of glaring contrasts where development and environmental degradation, overfeeding and starvation, occurrence of infectious and life style diseases, take place side by side. The modern medicinal system too, is not exception, curing on one hand and causing sickness through side effects on the other. Heartrendingly, the jolted human discretion has started taking stock of the situation turning to the natural and the indigenous. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine is abound with information regarding plant parts and products having medicinal properties sans side effects. Arjuna tree’s various parts, especially the bark, occupy the pride of place in the context of such medicinal values. This study has been undertaken to scientifically evaluate theses effects, specially the biochemical and nutritional ones. The study encompassed two phases; the first one being the study of modulating effect of arjuna bark powder on lipid and oxidative stress status of albino rats maintained on high fat and high cholesterol diet; and the second one involving the making of food products incorporating arjuna bark as one of the ingredients. Results of the present study indicate that arjuna bark acts as a hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic and oxidative stress lowering agent. Certain recipes incorporating arjuna bark recorded good acceptability meriting their inclusion in the daily diet of the people needing long term intervention for elevated lipids, cholesterol and oxidative stress levels.