Phytochemical Composition of Costus Afer Extract and Its Alleviation of Carbon Tetrachloride – induced Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Toxicity

Abstract

Medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds capable of preventing and fighting oxidative related diseases. Phytochemical composition of costus afer ext ract and its alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic oxidative stress and toxicity were evaluated. The qualitative and quantitative analyses showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenols in the aqueous stem ext ract while flavonoids, saponins and phenols were detected in the ethanol extract. The toxicological study showed serum elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT, EC 2.6.1.2.), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, EC 2.6.1.1) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, EC 3.1.3.1) and increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) expressed as melondialdehyde in the liver of the rats in responds to the oral administration of carbon tetrachloride. The rats fed with 400mg/kg of extract of costus afer showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in ALT and ALP levels close to the control than the rats fed with 200mg/kg. Though there were reduction in AST and TBARS levels close to the control than the rats fed with 200mg/kg, they were not significant (p>0.05). This indicated that biological active compounds of costus afer are more polar and could serve as source of bioactive compounds for nutrition and therapeutic purposes.