Effect of Aqueous Extract of Costus afer Stems on the Liver and Cardiac Enzymes Activities of High Fat Diet Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

Aim: The present study was carried out on the effect of aqueous extract of Costus afer stems on the liver and cardiac enzymes activities of diet induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Methodology: Wistar albino male rats (100-135g) were randomly distributed into 7 groups of 12 rats each. Group I was fed with standard diet as normal control rats and all the other groups were fed with high fat diet (10g eggyolk/day) for 2 weeks. The plant extract was administered orally at different concentrations of 400, 800 and 1600mg/kg b.w alone and also in combination with the reference drug, Atorvastatin® (0.26mg) to the treatment groups for four weeks. The liver and cardiac enzymes activities were observed at specific intervals (2 weeks).

Results: Results showed a significant (p<0.05) difference in the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities after two weeks of feeding with egg yolk supplemented diet in all the test groups when compared with the normal and hyperlipidemic control rats. After 2 and 4weeks treatment, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the plasma AST, ALT and ALP activities of rats in groups IV, V and VII when compared with the normal and hyperlipidemic control rats (groups I and II). There was also a significant (p<0.05) difference in the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity of all the test groups when compared with the normal control rats after feeding with high fat diet for 2 weeks. After 2 and 4weeks of treatment, rats in groups III, IV and VI (HTR on atorvastatin, 0.26mg, HTR on aqueous extract, 400 mg/kg and 1600 mg) significantly decreased when compared with the normal and hyperlipidemic control rats.

Conclusions: Hence, this shows that Costus afer stem extract may prevent hepatocyte injury or also maybecardioprotective against myocardial injury.