PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND LIPID LOWERING EFFECTS OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA FRUIT EXTRACTS IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Terminalia chebula fruit is a medicinal plant high in bioactive compounds that have potential therapeutic benefits. The current study targeted to determine the phytochemical profiles and hypolipidemic effects of aqueous and methanol-based extracts of Terminalia chebula fruits in high-fat diets that made hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. According to qualitative phytochemical examination, the aqueous extract contained phenols, flavonoids, tannins and saponins, whereas the methanol extract contained alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids, Induction of hyperlipidemia significantly raised total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels in the group with high-fat diet when compared to the normal control. Treatment with the methanol extract of Terminalia chebula (200 mg/kg) resulted in significant decreases (P<0.05) in blood total cholesterol (26.6%), triglycerides (17.3%), LDL cholesterol (43.8%), and VLDL cholesterol (17.3%) compared to hyperlipidemic control group. Similarly, the aqueous extract significantly decreased total cholesterol (15.8%), triglycerides (12.8%), LDL cholesterol (28.2%), and VLDL cholesterol (12.8%) (P<0.05). Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a significant improvement in lipid parameters and acted as a positive control. No substantial increase in HDL cholesterol levels was seen in the extract-treated groups. In conclusion, Terminalia chebula fruit extracts had considerable hypolipidemic action, with the methanol extract exceeding the aqueous extract. These effects could be attributable to the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids, which supports Terminalia chebula's potential use as a natural treatment for hyperlipidemia control.