Effect of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna.) Extract on Tissue Lead Levels in Rats

Abstract

The prophylactic efficacy of arjuna (Terminalia arjuna. L.) extract to reduce tissue lead (-Pb) concentration was evaluated experimentally in rats. Thirty female rats were divided into five groups, with group A as the control. Rats of groups B, C, D, and E received lead acetate orally at the rate of 5 mg per kg body weight daily for 6 weeks. The arjuna extract was tried in three doses, viz., 50 mg (low), 100 mg (medium), and 200 mg (high) per kg body weight orally and given simultaneously with Pb salt to the rats of groups C, D, and E, respectively. Mean blood Pb concentration in Pb-exposed rats ranged between 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.96 ± 0.06 µg/ml, whereas in arjuna-treated rats, the range was between 0.15 ± 0.02 and 0.94 ± 0.06, 0.17 ± 0.01 and 0.77 ± 0.06, and 0.13 ± 0.1 and 0.51 ± 0.07 µg/ml in low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively. The mean Pb concentration in liver, kidneys, brain, and bone of Pb-exposed rats was 2.289 ± 0.206, 4.748 ± 0.609, 1.019 ± 0.10, and 44.075 ± 2.60 µg/g, respectively. Concomitant use of arjuna bark extract at three different doses was found to reduce Pb concentration considerably in these vital organs indicating the potential therapeutic activity of arjuna against lead toxicity.