Anthocephalus indicus and Terminalia arjuna Combination Ameliorates Hematological and Histopathological Changes in a...

Metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus are among the most common chronic disorders worldwide, posing significant challenges to healthcare systems. They are characterized by persistent high blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and progressive impairment of organs such as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and heart. In the present study, we can evaluate the protective effects of a combined ethanolic extract of Anthocephalus indicus and Terminalia arjuna on hematological and histopathological alterations induced by metabolic syndrome in multiple vital organs of rats.

Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6): normal control, diabetic control (high-fat, high-fructose (HFHF) diet + streptozotocin (STZ)), individual extract-treated, combination-treated, metformin, and atorvastatin-treated. For 16 weeks, all groups (except the normal group) received a high-fat, high-fructose diet, followed by a low-dose streptozotocin (30 mg/kg body weight) injection to induce metabolic syndrome. The treatment phase included administration of individual extracts (500 mg/kg), combination extract (250 + 250 mg/kg), metformin (100 mg/kg), or atorvastatin (20 mg/kg). After the experimental period, animals were sacrificed, and organs, including the pancreas, kidney, liver, heart, lungs, and spleen, were examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

The diabetic control group showed significant histopathological damage across all organs, including islet distortion, glomerular hypertrophy, hepatic ballooning, myocardial degeneration, alveolar disruption, and splenic architectural loss. Treatment with individual extracts showed partial protection. However, the combination-treated group exhibited marked histological restoration comparable to metformin, indicating synergistic organ-protective effects. Atorvastatin showed moderate structural recovery in most tissues. Hematological analysis further revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis in the diabetic control group, while the combination extract significantly improved hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and normalized leukocyte and platelet counts, effects comparable to metformin.

The combined herbal formulation of A. indicus and T. arjuna demonstrated significant multiorgan protection in metabolic syndrome-induced rats. These findings suggest the potential of this phytotherapeutic approach as an effective alternative or adjunct in managing metabolic complications.