Anti-inflammatory activity and toxicity of the water extract of Terminalia chebula rezt in rats

Terminalia chebula Retz. is a plant in the family Combretaceae known as in Thailand “Sa Maw Thai”. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory activity and toxicity of the water extract of T. chebula fruit prepared according to Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Oral administration of T. chebula extract at the doses of 150, 300 and 600mg/kg caused dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation (Table 1). Chronic inflammation, T. chebula at 600mg/kg did not reduce both transudative and proliferative phases, body weight gain and thymus weight in the cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation. Inhibitory effect on the synthesis and/or release of inflammatory mediators, especially prostaglandins, may be the main mechanisms of action of T. chebula water extract. In addition, T. chebula water extract produced neither acute (LD50 >5,000mg/kg) nor chronic oral toxicity. The extrapolation of these results to humans suggests that T. chebula water extract is considered safe for usage at the doses of 300, 600 and 1,200mg/kg/day.