Evaluation of the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Triphala in high fat diet fed rats: Studies with two combinations

Suman Rana; Princy Louis Palatty; Ruby Benson; Benson Mathai Kochikuzhyil; Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga

doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_74_19

Evaluation of the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Triphala in high fat diet fed rats: Studies with two combinations

Ayu. 2022 Jul-Sep;43(3):98-104. doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_74_19. Epub 2023 Oct 9.

Authors

Suman Rana¹, Princy Louis Palatty², Ruby Benson¹, Benson Mathai Kochikuzhyil¹, Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, St. John's Pharmacy College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
² Department of Pharmacology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India.
³ Father Muller Research Centre, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

Background: Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Triphala, a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation made from dried fruits of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica Roxb.), and Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn.) has been suggested to be useful in mitigating hyperlipidemia. In the Ayurveda texts, depending on the patient's condition and body type, Triphala is formulated and used in one of the two combination (1:1:1 and 1:2:4 of individual constituents) forms.

Aims: The present study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of two combinations (1:1:1 and 1:2:4 of individual constituents) of Triphala against high fat diet induced-hyperlipidemia in rats.

Materials and method: Hyperlipidemia was induced in Spraque-Dawley albino rats by feeding them with high fat diet. The animals were concomitantly administered with graded dose of one of the two combination (combination of Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amalaki in ratio of 1:1:1 or 1:2:4, respectively) of Triphala (250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg body wt.) or atorvastatin. The animals were sacrificed on day 22 and serum was processed for lipid profile and the liver for lipid peroxidation. The statistical analysis was performed by the mean analysis of variance followed by Dunnet's test.

Results: The results indicated that when compared to placebo group, levels of serum total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly lower, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in both the Triphala combination and atorvastatin groups. Of the two groups of Triphala, the formulation having 1:2:4 ratio was better than the 1:1:1. The group having highest drug dose (1000 mg/kg body wt.) of 1:2:4 formulation was better than atorvastatin in rectifying high fat diet-induced dyslipidemia and the atherogenic index was equal to that of atorvastatin.

Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that of the two Triphala formulations, the 1:2:4 ratio was better than the 1:1:1 ratio for anti-hyper-lipidemic effects.

Keywords: Ayurveda; Emblica officinalis gaertn; Terminalia belerica roxb; Terminalia chebula ratz; Triphala; hyperlipidemia.