Studying the potential of the Arjun tree in managing blood sugar and cholesterol levels

One of the most commonly used plants in the traditional Indian medicinal system is the Arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn). Researchers have shown that hydroalcoholic extracts from this plant exhibit anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. This finding, which was published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, was determined using in vivo models.

• Plant-based formulations are often utilized in traditional Indian medicinal systems.
• Hydroalcoholic extracts from the Arjun tree have been used to create a standardized, commercially available tonic called Arjunarishta. Although this tonic is used for treating cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, its mechanism of action has never been determined prior to this study.
• Extracts from the Arjun tree have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which could be attributed to the presence of polyphenols.
• In vivo experiments were performed on Wistar rats that were given a high-fat diet.
• The effects of treatment with hydroalcoholic Arjun tree extracts, as well as the standardized Arjunarishta, were evaluated based on glucose tolerance, serum composition, blood pressure, and liver triglyceride content.
• Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was also used to determine the levels of different gene expressions in the liver.

Using these experiments, the researchers were able to determine that the mechanism behind Arjun tree’s anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects involves the reduced expression of the protein tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as well as the increased production of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1 alpha).

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Shengule SA, Mishra S, Joshi K, Apte K, Patil D, Kale P, Shah T, Deshpande M, Puranik A. ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-HYPERLIPIDAEMIC EFFECT OF ARJUNARISHTA IN HIGH-FAT FED ANIMALS. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 15 December 2017;9(1). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2017.07.004