Key result
Terminalia arjuna extract protects rats against stress-induced cardiac dysfunction via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Why the study?
Chronic unpredictable stress contributes to cardiac dysfunction, but the protective effects of the traditional medicinal plant Terminalia arjuna against stress-induced cardiac dysfunction remain inadequately investigated.
Does Terminalia Arjuna extract improve cardiac dysfunction in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress?
Does Terminalia Arjuna extract improve cardiac dysfunction in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress?
Terminalia arjuna extract demonstrates cardioprotective effects against chronic stress-induced cardiac dysfunction in a rat model via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.
Hypothesis-generating for Terminalia arjuna in stress-induced cardiac dysfunction; human trials needed before any clinical consideration.
Introduction: Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) significantly contributes to cardiac dysfunction and poses a critical global health challenge. Chronic stress exposure results in dysregulation of neuroendocrine and inflammatory pathways, leading to detrimental structural and functional alterations in the heart. Terminalia Arjuna (TA) is a traditional cardioprotective medicinal plant; however, its protective effects against stress-induced cardiac dysfunction are inadequately investigated. Materials and Methods: Rats underwent CUS for 8 weeks, thereafter receiving treatment with TA extract for 15 days. Physiological and behavioral characteristics, blood corticosterone concentrations, Electrocardiography (ECG), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), heart weight-to-body weight ratio, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6), oxidative stress marker (MDA), antioxidant biomarkers (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH)), and histopathological alterations were assessed. Apoptosis was evaluated by measuring caspase-3 expression Results: CUS resulted in substantial weight reduction, depressive-like behavior, increased corticosterone levels, and pronounced cardiac abnormalities such as hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis. ECG-HRV indicated an elevated heart rate and less parasympathetic activity. TA therapy markedly improved ECG-HRV parameters, balanced the heart weight-to-body weight ratio, reduced IL-1β and IL-6 levels, lowered MDA, and increased SOD and GSH activities. Histological analysis revealed decreased cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, collagen accumulation, and caspase-3 expression. Discussion: The results indicate that TA alleviates stress-related heart injury by reducing inflammatory responses, reestablishing redox equilibrium, and obstructing apoptotic pathways. Enhancement of autonomic control further substantiates its function in cardiac recovery during chronic stress. Conclusion: The extract of Terminalia arjuna provides substantial cardioprotection against cardiac dysfunction induced by CUS through its synergistic anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects, underscoring its therapeutic potential in cardiac illnesses associated with chronic stress.
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Singh et al. (2026) studied Chronic Unpredictable Stress-induced Cardiac Dysfunction. Terminalia Arjuna extract vs. Untreated CUS rats was evaluated on Physiological, behavioral, ECG, HRV, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers. Terminalia arjuna extract provided cardioprotection against chronic unpredictable stress-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects.
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