Haritaki herb Terminalia chebula plant

Haritaki, also known as Terminalia chebula plant, is a major constituent of Triphala herbal formula.

Inhibition of hyaluronidase activity of human and rat spermatozoa in vitro and antispermatogenic activity in rats in vivo by Terminalia chebula, a flavonoid rich plant.
Reprod Toxicol. 2009 Nov 10. Srivastav A, Chandra A, Singh M, Jamal F, Rastogi P, Rajendran SM, Bansode FW, Lakshmi V. Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Our interest in development of hyaluronidase inhibitors as male antifertility agents led to identification of Terminalia chebula plant with hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitory activity of human spermatozoa ( approximately 93% inhibition) and rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa ( approximately 86% inhibition) in vitro at 30mg/ml. We further demonstrated inhibition of hyaluronidase activity of testis and epididymal spermatozoa in vivo coincident with antispermatogenic activity and contraceptive efficacy of TC extract administered at 50 and 100mg/kg/day orally for 60 days in male albino rats. The significant decrease in motility, count and increase in morphological abnormalities of epididymal spermatozoa and severe reduction in fertility (-100%) of male rats treated with T. chebula fruit extract at 100mg/kg dose could be attributed to either direct effect on testis or direct or indirect interference with sperm maturation in epididymis, and/or inhibition of testicular and epididymal sperm hyaluronidase enzyme in vivo probably caused by flavonoids like tannins present in T. chebula.

The Ayurvedic medicines Haritaki, Amala and Bahira reduce cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits.
Int J Cardiol. 1988 Nov; Patna Medical College, India.
Four groups of 25 rabbits each, were studied to determine the effect of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Amla (Emblica officinalis) and Bahira (Terminalia belerica) on cholesterol-induced hypercholesteolaemia and atherosclerosis. The control group was fed with cholesterol alone; the Haritaki group received Haritaki and cholesterol; the Bahira group received Bahira and cholesterol; and the Amla group received Amla and cholesterol for 16 weeks. Cholesterol was significantly less in the Haritaki group (166 mg/dl), the Bahira group (240 mg/dl) and the Amla group (205 mg/dl) than in the control group (630 mg/dl). The Haritaki group had significantly less cholesterolaemia as compared to the Bahira and Amla groups. The cholesterol contents of the liver and aorta, respectively, were significantly less in the Haritaki group (46 mg/100 g, 28 mg/100 g), the Bahira group (78 mg/100 g, 72 mg/100 g) and the Amla group (46 mg/100 g, 42 mg/100 g), than in the control group (604 mg/100 g, 116 mg/100 g). Among the drug-fed groups, the Haritaki group had significantly lower degrees of sudanophilia and cholesterol content of aorta and liver as compared to the Bahira and Amla groups. Although all three drugs reduced serum cholesterol, aortic sudanophilia and cholesterol contents of liver and aorta, their effects were in ascending order of magnitude.

horny goat weed herb.