Phytochemical analysis and thrombolytic profiling of Costus afer stem fractions

Background The most commonly occurring mechanism driving ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction is thrombosis. It is normally characterized by platelet activation and aggregation. Thrombolytics have been used in the treatment of several forms of thrombosis, but their adverse effects have limited their usefulness. Thus, there is a need to develop alternatives from medicinal plants known to possess antithrombotic activity such as Costus afer. Results The phytochemical evaluations indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins. The antithrombotic profiling showed that streptokinase had the highest percentage clot lysis, followed by ethylacetate fraction of the extract, which was higher than aspirin and other fractions of the extract. Conclusion The present findings show that C. afer stem extract and various fractions possess antithrombotic activities. However, further studies are needed to characterize the antithrombotic bioactive compounds present in the different fractions that are responsible for the activities.

Protective influence of Costus afer Aqueous Extract In Rats Fed With Crude Oil Contaminated Diet as Measured by Employing Biochemical Indices

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of harmful impacts of xenobiotics in animals is attracting an increasing attention in recent times. The aim of the current study is to assess the preventive potential of Costus afer aqueous leaves extract (CAAE) in treating metabolic aberrations imposed by crude oil contaminated diet inWistar albino rats. Six groups of rats were treated as follows: A = Normal diet; B=Normal diet + 100 mg/kg body weight of CAAE; C =Normal diet + 200 mg/kg body weight of CAAE; D= Crude oil contaminated diet; E= crude oil contaminated diet + 100 mg/kg body weight of CAAE, F = crude oil contaminated diet + 200 mg/kg body weight of CAAE. After thirty days of exposure to the diet and administration of the corresponding plant extracts, the rats were sacrificed with chloroform and the required organs were excised. The hematological indices, as well as function indicators and levels of drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver and kidney, were investigated with standard protocols. The results indicated that the hematological parameters and kidney and liver function indices were altered in rats fed with crude oil contaminated diet. However, the values came close to those in control rats when Costus afer aqueous extracts were administered. Similarly, the activities of oxidase enzymes (aldehyde oxidase, monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and sulphite oxidase), following their inhibition by the ingestion of crude oil contaminated diet, equally restored close to control values upon treatment with Costus afer aqueous extract. This study, therefore, was able to establish an aqueous extract of Costus aferleave as an antidote for crude oil intoxication.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Costus Afer On Trace Metal Mixture Treated Rats Mediated By Regulation of Oxidative Stress Markers, Inflammatory Cytokines And Bio-Metal Chelation

Technological developments have led to exposure to various substances that are harmful to the environment and public health, including heavy metals. In the environment, these grades of metals are usually diverse mixtures shown to cause physiological, biochemical and neurological dysfunctions in humans and laboratory animals. Cadmium, Lead, and mercury have been envisaged to exhibit their hepatotoxic effects by oxidative induction damage and synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The current work evaluated the protective activity of aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer (ALECA)) on liver damage arsing from exposure to trace metal mixture (TMM): cadmium chloride (CdCl2), lead chloride (PbCl2), and mercury chloride (HgCl2). Five groups of weight matched Sprague Dawley rats were treated for 90 days. Metal mixture and deionized water were used to treat the 2 groups of rats whereas the other 3 groups were treated with various doses of the ALECA through oral gavage alongside the metal mixture. Hepatic function parameters, oxidative biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, Morphological changes and trace metals (concentrations were monitored in the liver). TMM treatment resulted in significant increase in ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, IL-6, MDA, but decreased albumin, total protein, IL-10, SOD, CAT and GSH levels. TMM also caused some morphological changes and increased the heavy metal (Pb, Cd and Hg) concentrations in the liver. The leaf extract gave a reasonable protective effect on the hepatotoxicity caused by trace metal mixture - through the mechanisms of metal chelation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant although this depends on the dosage to the rats. ALECA may be beneficial in the management of liver toxicity.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Costus Afer on Trace Metal Mixture Treated Rats Mediated by Regulation of Oxidative Stress Markers, Inflammatory Cytokines and Bio-Metal Chelation

Technological developments have led to exposure to various substances that are harmful to the environment and public health, including heavy metals. In the environment, these grades of metals are usually diverse mixtures shown to cause physiological, biochemical and neurological dysfunctions in humans and laboratory animals. Cadmium, Lead, and mercury have been envisaged to exhibit their hepatotoxic effects by oxidative induction damage and synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The current work evaluated the protective activity of aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer (ALECA)) on liver damage arsing from exposure to trace metal mixture (TMM): cadmium chloride (CdCl2), lead chloride (PbCl2), and mercury chloride (HgCl2). Five groups of weight matched Sprague Dawley rats were treated for 90 days. Metal mixture and deionized water were used to treat the 2 groups of rats whereas the other 3 groups were treated with various doses of the ALECA through oral gavage alongside the metal mixture. Hepatic function parameters, oxidative biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, Morphological changes and trace metals (concentrations were monitored in the liver). TMM treatment resulted in significant increase in ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, IL-6, MDA, but decreased albumin, total protein, IL-10, SOD, CAT and GSH levels. TMM also caused some morphological changes and increased the heavy metal (Pb, Cd and Hg) concentrations in the liver. The leaf extract gave a reasonable protective effect on the hepatotoxicity caused by trace metal mixture - through the mechanisms of metal chelation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant although this depends on the dosage to the rats. ALECA may be beneficial in the management of liver toxicity.

Costus afer (Costaceae, Zingiberales) leaf extract ameliorates naproxen-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Purpose: To examine Costus afer leaf extract (CALE) protective effects against naproxen-induced gastric ulcer and the mechanisms of protection.Methods: Rats with naproxen-induced ulcer were pretreated with either CALE (800 mg/kg), pantoprazole (20 mg/kg), or a combination of both. Then the ulcer index, total gastric acidity, gastric pH, and curative index were evaluated. In addition, gastric mucin, pepsin, prostaglandin E2, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxide, and superoxide dismutase were quantified. The gastric pathologicalchange was also evaluated.Results: Rats treated with CALE, pantoprazole, and their combination significantly decreased ulcer index, total gastric acidity, and gastric pH. All treatments induced a significant curative index in favor of the combination. The CALE significantly increased gastric mucin, prostaglandin E2, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. However, the CALE significantly decreased pepsin and lipid peroxide product.Conclusion: These results reveal that CALE protects the stomach against naproxen-induced ulcer. This action is linked to increased gastroprotective factors, increased antioxidants, and decreased lipid peroxidation. The CALE may be used as an adjunctive treatment for ulcers caused by NSAIDs. Keywords: Costus afer, Naproxen, Gastric ulcer, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation