title: Terminalia arjuna bark extract improves diuresis and attenuates acute hypobaric hypoxia induced cerebral vascular leakage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn. (T. arjuna) has been widely used in the traditional ayurvedic system of medicine as a cardioprotectant and for acute and chronic renal diseases supporting its ethnopharmacological use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed at evaluating the diuretic action of an alcoholic extract of T. arjuna and its possible use as a prophylactic to prevent vascular leakage during acute mountain sickness at high altitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia simulated to an altitude of 27,000 ft. in a decompression chamber for 12h. T. arjuna bark extract was administered at a single dose of 150 mg/kg (p.o.) to male Sprague Dawley rats (200 ± 20 g) 30 min prior to exposure. Total urine volume was measured during exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. The animals were then investigated for cerebral vascular leakage and serum concentration of sodium, potassium, renin, angiotensin-II, aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  T. arjuna ameliorated acute hypobaric hypoxia induced decrease in glomerular filtration rate (p<0.5), increased total urine output (p<0.5) and prevented cerebral vascular leakage in hypoxic rats. T. arjuna treated animals also showed decrease in serum levels of renin (p<0.001) and angiotensin-II (p<0.5) as compared to placebo treated animals. Administration of T. arjuna attenuated acute hypobaric hypoxia induced oxidative stress, improved aldosterone levels and altered electrolyte balance in animals through ANP dependent mechanism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the present study indicate towards diuretic potential of hydro-alcoholic extract of T. arjuna bark and provide evidence for its novel application as a prophylactic to attenuate acute hypobaric hypoxia induced cerebral vascular leakage through ANP mediated modulation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India.
authors.forename: Kushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Sarika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vashishtha
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India.
authors.forename: Pushpender
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India.
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barhwal
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, C/o 56 APO, Leh-Ladakh 901205, India. Electronic address: drsunilhota@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hota
authors.affiliation: Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, H.P. 173234, India.
authors.forename: Udayabanu
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Malairaman
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Baljinder
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D029766:Terminalia
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004232:Diuretics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D012964:Sodium; D012083:Renin; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Acute hypobaric hypoxia; Atrial naturetic peptide; Cerebral vascular leakage; Renin-angiotensin-II-aldosterone (RAAS); T. arjuna