Triphala is categorized as a rejuvenator and
antioxidant-rich Ayurvedic herbal formulation and has traditionally been used in various gastric problems including intestinal
inflammation. The aim of the present study was to examine the comparative enteroprotective effect of
Triphala formulations against
methotrexate-induced intestinal damage in rats.
Triphala formulations were prepared by mixing equal (1:1:1) and unequal (1:2:4) proportions of Terminalia chebula Retz., Terminalia belerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Intestinal damage was induced by administering
methotrexate (MTX) in a dose of 12 mg/kg, orally for 4 days to albino rats. The intestinal damage response was assessed by gross and microscopical injury, measuring the intestinal permeability to
phenol red and tissue biochemical parameters.
Triphala equal and unequal formulations at the dose of 540 mg/kg significantly restored the depleted
protein level in brush border membrane of intestine,
phospholipid and
glutathione content and decreased the
myeloperoxidase and
xanthine oxidase level in intestinal mucosa of
methotrexate-treated rats. In addition,
Triphala unequal formulation showed significant decrease in permeation clearance of
phenol red with significant attenuation in the histopathological changes, level of
disaccharidase in brush border membrane vesicles and lipid peroxidation content of intestinal mucosa. Based on the data generated, it is suggested that
Triphala unequal formulation provides significantly more protection than
Triphala equal formulation against
methotrexate-induced damage in rat intestine.