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Histopathological and biochemical assessments of Costus afer stem on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

  • Anthoneth Ndidi Ezejiofor , Zelinjo Nkeiruka Igweze , Nnaemeka Arinze Udowelle and Orish Ebere Orisakwe EMAIL logo

Abstract

Background:

In continuation of our study of the biological activity of the aqueous extract of Costus afer stem used in tradomedicare in Nigeria, this work has investigated the biochemical, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and protective effects of aqueous extract of C. afer stem on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic albino Wistar rats.

Methods:

Thirty male albino Wistar rats (150−200 g) were weight-matched into six groups of five rats each. Groups 1 and 2 were the normal (non-induced) and toxic (alloxan-induced) controls, respectively. Groups 3−6 were induced and treated with 1, 2 and 3 g/kg of the aqueous extract of C. afer stem and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), respectively. Food and fluid intake, body weight, absolute and relative weight of organs (liver, pancreas, and kidneys) and biochemical parameters were measured.

Results:

There was a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin triglyceride, creatinine, urea and electrolyte when compared with toxic control group. The liver marker enzymes were restored in all the treated groups. The aqueous stem extract possessed hypoglycaemic effect and reversed the histopathological damage in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that aqueous stem extract of C. afer possesses both hypoglycaemic and organ protective properties.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Employment or leadership: None declared.

  4. Honorarium: None declared.

  5. Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Received: 2016-3-19
Accepted: 2017-2-7
Published Online: 2017-3-29
Published in Print: 2017-7-26

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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