Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) protects rabbit heart against ischemic-reperfusion injury: role of antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein

The bark of Terminalia arjuna Roxb. (TA) is widely recommended for the treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in Indian system of medicine. Oral administration of TA for 12 weeks in rabbits caused augmentation of myocardial antioxidants; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) along with induction of heat shock protein72 (HSP72). In vivo ischemic-reperfusion injury induced oxidative stress, tissue injury of heart and haemodynamic effects were prevented in the TA treated rabbit hearts. The study provides scientific basis for the putative therapeutic effect of TA in ischemic heart disease.