Antioxidant Effect of Terminalia Chebula Aqueous Extract on Age-Related Oxidative Stress in Heart Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by normal metabolic processes or from exogenous insults and chemical agents. They are capable of damaging essential biomolecules and accelerating cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the antioxidant role of Terminalia chebula aqueous extract was evaluated against age-related oxidative stress in heart tissues of young and aged rats. Young and aged rats were treated with T. chebula aqueous extract at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight in 1.5ml sterile water orally for 4 weeks. Control young and aged rats were received sterile water only. In aged rats, the increased content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed. The antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and E levels were decreased in heart tissues of aged control rats. Administration of T. chebula to aged rats prevented the depletion of SOD, CAT, GPx activities and GSH, vitamin C and E contents. Also, the level of MDA content was decreased in heart tissues. The results of the present study shows that T. chebula aqueous extract modulate the activities of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation through the management of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in rat heart tissues.