Repeated oral dose toxicity study on hydrolysable tannin rich fraction isolated from fruit pericarps of Terminalia chebula Retz in Wistar albino rats

Integrated Data Mining and Animal Experiments to Investigate the Efficacy and Potential Pharmacological Mechanism of a Traditional Tibetan Functional Food Terminalia chebula Retz. in Hyperuricemia

Background

Hyperuricemia (HUA), a common metabolic disorder associated with gout, renal dysfunction, and systemic inflammation, necessitates safer and more comprehensive therapeutic approaches. Traditional Tibetan medicine has a rich history of treating HUA. This study aimed to identify novel anti-hyperuricemic herb derived from traditional Tibetan medicine.

Methods

Traditional Tibetan medicine prescriptions for HUA were analyzed using data mining techniques, identifying T. chebula as a high-frequency herb. Its phytochemical composition was characterized by UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS. Hyperuricemic rat models were treated with T. chebula to assess its effects on serum uric acid (UA) levels, renal inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity, and gut microbiota composition. Molecular and histological analyses evaluated its impact on key biomarkers.

Results

Through data mining, we identified T. chebula as a promising candidate for HUA treatment. T. chebula demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOD) in vitro and significantly reduced serum UA levels and XOD activity in vivo. It restored gut barrier function by upregulating tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α). T. chebula improved renal function, reducing serum creatinine (Cre) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Gut microbiota analysis revealed a favorable shift in microbial composition, with reductions in harmful bacteria (eg, Clostridium spp.) and increases in beneficial bacteria (eg, Roseburia). These effects aligned with the modulation of the gut-kidney axis.

Conclusion

This study highlights the multi-target therapeutic potential of T. chebula in HUA management. By regulating the gut-kidney axis, T. chebula alleviates systemic inflammation, enhances intestinal and renal health, and addresses critical aspects of HUA pathology. These findings underscore the value of integrating traditional medicine with modern scientific methodologies to develop innovative treatments.

Comprehensive Review on Fruit of Terminalia chebula: Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicity, and Pharmacokinetics

Terminalia chebula Retz., known for its dried fruit, namely Chebulae Fructus, is a medicinal plant with a long-standing global reputation, which was initially recognized for its therapeutic properties during the Jin Dynasty. This review consolidates current knowledge on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of Chebulae Fructus, highlighting its clinical significance and the promising therapeutic potential of its compounds. To date, studies have identified approximately 149 compounds within the plant, including tannins, phenolic acids, lignans, triterpenes, flavonoids, and volatiles. These compounds confer a broad spectrum of biological activities in vitro and in vivo, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic, some of which are already integrated into clinical practice. However, despite substantial advancements, considerable gaps remain in understanding the complete mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles of its extracts and compounds. This paper advocates for enhanced focus on these areas to fully elucidate the therapeutic capacities and facilitate the clinical application of Chebulae Fructus. This comprehensive analysis not only reinforces the ethnopharmacological significance of Chebulae Fructus but also lays a foundation for future pharmacological explorations.

Study on Quality Characteristic of Chebulae Fructus and Its Adulterants and Degradation Pathway of Hydrolyzable Tannins

Chebulae Fructus (CF) is known as one of the richest sources of hydrolyzable tannins (HTs). In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector method was established for simultaneous determination of the 12 common phenolcarboxylic and tannic constituents (PTCs). Using this method, quantitative analysis was accomplished in CF and other four adulterants, including Terminaliae Belliricae Fructus, Phyllanthi Fructus, Chebulae Fructus Immaturus, and Canarii Fructus. Based on a quantitative analysis of the focused compounds, discrimination of CF and other four adulterants was successfully accomplished by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Additionally, the total contents of the 12 compounds that we focused on in this study were unveiled as 148.86 mg/g, 96.14 mg/g, and 18.64 mg/g in exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp and seed of CF, respectively, and PTCs were witnessed to be the most abundant in the exocarp of CF. Noticeably, the HTs (chebulagic acid, chebulanin acid, chebulinic acid, and punicalagin) were observed to be ultimately degraded to chebulic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid during sunlight-drying of the fresh fruits. As a result, our study indicated that CF and its adulterants could be distinguished by the observed 12 PTCs, which were mainly distributed in the exocarp of the fruits. The HTs were prone to degrade into the three simple phenolcarboxylic acids during drying or processing, allowing us to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the PTCs, with great significance in the improved quality of CF and related products.

Hepatotoxic Components Effect of Chebulae Fructus and Associated Molecular Mechanism by Integrated Transcriptome and Molecular Docking

Chebulae Fructus (CF) is a natural medicinal plant widely used for its various pharmacological properties. Natural products used to cure several diseases have been considered safe thanks to their little or no side effects. However, in recent years, a hepatotoxic effect has been found due to the abuse of herbal medicine. CF has been reported to have hepatotoxicity, but the mechanism is unclear. In this experiment, the toxic aspect and mechanism of CF action were evaluated by transcriptome analysis. Components of toxic CF fractions were identified by LC-MS, and hepatotoxic toxic components in toxic CF fractions were predicted by molecular docking. The results showed that the ethyl acetate part of CF was the main toxic fraction, and transcriptome analysis found that the toxic mechanism was highly related to lipid metabolism-related pathways, and CFEA could inhibit the PPAR signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that 3'-O-methyl-4-O-(n″-O-galloyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl) ellagic acid (n = 2, 3 or 4) and 4-O-(3″,4″-O-digalloyl-α-l-rhamnosyl) ellagic acid have better docking energies with PPARα protein and FABP protein than other components. In summary, 3'-O-methyl-4-O-(n″-O-galloyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl) ellagic acid (n = 2, 3 or 4) and 4-O-(3″,4″-O-digalloyl-α-l-rhamnosyl) ellagic acid were the main toxic components, which may play a toxic role by inhibiting the PPAR signaling pathway and affect lipid metabolism.

Terminalia chebula Polyphenol and Near-Infrared Dye-Loaded Poly(lactic acid) Nanoparticles for Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Cancer Cells

Photothermal/photodynamic therapies (PTT/PDT) are multimodal approaches employing near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive photosensitizers for cancer treatment. In the current study, IR-775, a hydrophobic photosensitizer, was used in combination with a polyphenols (p)-rich ethyl acetate extract from Terminalia chebula to treat cancer. IR-775 dye and polyphenols were encapsulated in a poly(lactic acid) polymeric nanosystem (PpIR NPs) to increase the cell bioavailability. The hydrodynamic diameter of PpIR NPs is 142.6 ± 2 nm and exhibited physical stability. The nanosystem showed enhanced cellular uptake in a lung cancer cell line (A549). Cell cytotoxicity results indicate that PpIR NPs showed more than 82.46 ± 3% cell death upon NIR light treatment compared to the control groups. Both PDT and PTT generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause hyperthermia, thereby enhancing cancer cell death. Qualitative and quantitative analyses have depicted that PpIR NPs with NIR light irradiation have decreased protein expression of HSP70 and PARP, and increased γ-H2AX, which collectively lead to cell death. After NIR light irradiation, the relative gene expression patterns of HSP70 and CDK2Na were also downregulated. Further, PpIR NPs uptake has been studied in 3D cells and in ovo bioimaging in zebrafish models. In conclusion, the PpIR NPs show good cancer cell cytotoxicity and present a potential nanosystem for bioimaging.

Atherosclerosis Development and Aortic Contractility in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits Supplemented with Two Different Flaxseed Varieties

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is widely regarded as the main beneficial component of flax for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the effect of the transgenic flaxseed W86-which is rich in ALA-on the lipid profile, atherosclerosis progression, and vascular reactivity in hypercholesterolemic rabbits compared to the parental cultivar Linola with a very low ALA content. Rabbits were fed a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with 1% cholesterol, 1% cholesterol and 10% flaxseed W86, or 1% cholesterol and 10% Linola flaxseed. A high-cholesterol diet resulted in an elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the control animals. Aortic sections from rabbits fed Linola had lower deposits of foamy cells than those from rabbits fed W86. A potassium-induced and phenylephrine-induced contractile response was enhanced by a high-cholesterol diet and not influenced by the W86 or Linola flaxseed. Pretreatment of the aortic rings with nitro-L-arginine methyl ester resulted in a concentration-dependent tendency to increase the reaction amplitude in the control and high-cholesterol diet groups but not the flaxseed groups. Linola flaxseed with a low ALA content more effectively reduced the atherosclerosis progression compared with the W86 flaxseed with a high concentration of stable ALA. Aorta contractility studies suggested that flaxseed ameliorated an increased contractility in hypercholesterolemia but had little or no impact on NO synthesis in the vascular wall.

Plants of the Genus Terminalia: An Insight on Its Biological Potentials, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies

The evaluation and confirmation of healing properties of several plant species of genus Terminalia based on their traditional uses and the clinical claims are of utmost importance. Genus Terminalia has received more attention to assess and validate the therapeutic potential and clinical approval due to its immense folk medicinal and traditional applications. Various species of Terminalia genus are used in the form of herbal medicine and formulations, in treatment of diseases, including headache, fever, pneumonia, flu, geriatric, cancer, to improve memory, abdominal and back pain, cough and cold, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, heart disorder, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract disorders. These are reported to possess numerous biological properties, counting: antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antiretroviral, antioxidant, and antipa7rasitic. This current research review aims to update the detailed biological activities, pre-clinical and clinical studies of various extracts and secondary metabolites from several plant species under the genus Terminalia, along with information on the traditional uses and chemical composition to develop a promising strategy for their potential applications in the form of medicine or use in modern drug formulations for treating diseases like pneumonia, flu, and other types of viral infections or controlling human contagions.

A Comprehensive Review of the Structure Elucidation of Tannins from Terminalia Linn

OBJECTIVES

Tannins with complex structures are important plant resources, which are abundant in the genus Terminalia. Various Terminalia species have been playing an important role in traditional medicine system. A systematic scoping review of Terminalia Linn. research literature for tannins was conducted to summarize the structures of tannins and analysis fragmentation pathway characteristics, which could provide references for the structural analysis of tannins from Terminalia Linn.

METHODS

After an update of the literature search up to September 2018, the terms of Terminalia in all publications were analyzed. Electronic searches were conducted in scifinder and PubMed, and the information from 197 articles in all with regard to the tannin structure study was extracted.

RESULTS

The compounds of 82 tannins from the genus Terminalia were reviewed. According to the structural differences, they can be divided into three categories, hydrolysable tannins, condensed tannins, and complex tannins, respectively. The fragmentation pathways of 46 identified tannins were analyzed, and the fragmentation rules of tannins were speculated according to different types.

CONCLUSION

This review has attracted attention to the active substances in this species such as the tannins summarized in further study. How to improve the extraction and purification technology of tannins from genus Terminalia is an urgent problem to be solved.

Hydrolysable tannin-rich fraction from Terminalia chebula Retz. fruits ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis in BALB/c mice

Terminalia chebula Retz. (Fam: Combretaceae) (TC) is widely used in traditional system for the treatment of fever, asthma, urinary diseases, and rheumatism. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of hydrolysable tannin-rich fraction (HTF) isolated from TC fruits in collagen-induced arthritic BALB/c mice. Type II collagen-induced arthritis was attained in BALB/c mice. HTF treatment at three gradual doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was started from 24th day on daily administration up to 4 weeks. Body weight, food intake, and increase in hind paw were monitored at weekly basis. At the end of the study, serum and joint tissues were estimated for proinflammatory cytokines and biochemical parameters and the hind limbs were removed for radiological and histopathological evaluations. Oral administration of HTF could significantly protect CIA in BALB/c mice by reducing paw volume, arthritic score, spleen index, serum and joint cytokine level, and biochemical markers. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of HTF was further demonstrated by morphological observation, histopathological , and radiological evaluations. HTF is a good therapeutic agent for the treatment of joint inflammatory condition, as its action is mediated through cytokine inhibition.