Aqueous Bark extract of Terminalia arjuna protects against Cigarette Smoke-induced alterations in Serum Lipid Profile of Albino Rats

The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna against cigarette smoke-induced changes in serum lipid profile of albino rats. The rats were divided into three groups. One control group (I) and two experimental groups (II and III), all three groups consisting of five rats each. The control group (I) was unexposed to cigarette smoke. Experimental group (II) was exposed to cigarette smoke (6 cigarettes) for one hour/day for 30 days and experimental group (III) was exposed to cigarette smoke along with oral administration of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (5mg/rat/day) for 30 days. The findings showed a significant (P<0.01) increase in serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) with significant (P<0.01) decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level in cigarette smoke-exposed albino rats in comparison to control rats while a significant (P<0.01) decrease in serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) with significant (P<0.01) increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) after oral administration of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna in comparison to cigarette smoke-exposed albino rats.