Aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna attenuates tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell model

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is a medicinal plant used in many polyherbal hepatoprotective formulations. Although widely claimed to be antioxidant, data supporting such actions of Arjuna are limited. In the present study, we have investigated the efficacy of the aqueous extract of T. arjuna (AETA) using a standard pro-oxidant [tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)] in HepG2 cells. Cells were incubated with AETA (5-100 µg/ml) for a range of time points (4-24 h) with or without TBHP (500 μM), and biochemical markers of oxidative stress (OS) were determined. Cells incubated with TBHP showed the significant induction of OS response in cytosol manifested as lipid hydroperoxide (76%-198%) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (60%-127%). Diminished levels of reduced glutathione (35%-60%) and total antioxidant capacity (20%-61%) suggested an altered redox state. Significant perturbations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (30%-56%), superoxide dismutase (25%-68%), glutathione S-transferase (29%-67%), glutathione peroxidase (24%-68%) and glutathione reductase (38%-49%) were discernible suggesting the ongoing OS in the cells. However, cells treated with AETA (100 µg/ml) along with TBHP offered significant protection by reducing levels of lipid hydroperoxide (33%-62%) and ROS (69%) and by increasing antioxidant capacity (54%-81%) and levels of reduced glutathione (49%-82%). Further, it also enhanced the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, 60%; catalase, 35%-82%; glutathione peroxidase, 42-65 %; glutathione reductase, 48%-62%; and glutathione S-transferase, 22%-100%). Taken together, these data suggest that Arjuna can protect against the oxidative damage induced by TBHP and may be effectively used as a hepatoprotective adjuvant to abrogate OS in vivo.