Terminalia arjuna prevents Interleukin-18-induced atherosclerosis via modulation of NF-κB/PPAR-γ-mediated pathway in Apo E−/− mice

Aim of the study Terminalia arjuna is a medicinal plant well known as a cardiotonic in Ayurvedic system of medicine. We hypothesized that aqueous stem bark extract of T. arjuna (TAE) may inhibit IL-18-induced atherosclerosis via NF-κB/PPAR-γ-mediated pathway in Apo E−/− mice. Materials and methods 12-week-old, male Apo E−/− mice divided into four groups ( n = 6/group) fed with normal chow-diet were employed: GP I: phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (2 month); GP II: rIL-18 (1 month) followed by PBS (1 month); GP III: rIL-18 (1 month) followed by TAE (1 month); GP IV: rIL-18 (1 month) followed by atorvastatin (1 month). Results IL-18 treatment induced a significant increase ( p