Effect of Aqueous Extract of Costus afer Stems on the Serum Proteins and Bilirubin Levels of High Fat Diet Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

Aim: The effect of aqueous extract of Costus afer stems on total protein, albumin,globulin, total and

conjugated bilirubin levels in diet induced hyperlipidemic rats were studied.

Methodology: Wistar albino male rats (100-135 g) 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 (10 g 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 serum proteins and bilirubin were observed at specific intervals (2 weeks).

Results: The results revealed significant (p<0.05) increase in the total protein, albumin and globulin concentration after 2 weeks of feeding with high fat diet in rats which were in groups IV and V as compared to normal control rats. Treatment of rats with plant extract showed no significant difference in the total protein concentration of hyperlipidemic test rats while the albumin concentration of rats in group VII increased significantly when compared to the normal and hyperlipidemic control rats. There was no significant difference in the globulin concentration of hyperlipidemic treated rats. After 2nd and 4th week of treatment, the total bilirubin concentrations of rats in groups V and VI (HTR on aqueous extract, 1600 mg/kg and HTR on aqueous extract, 800 mg/kg) decreased significantly when compared with normal and hyperlipidemic control rats. After 2 weeks of treatment, the conjugate bilirubin concentration of rats in group VI (HTR on aqueous extract, 1600 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) decreased when compared to the hyperlipidemic control rats.

Conclusions: Hence, this shows that Costus afer stem extract does not have any deleterious effect on tissues and on the analyzed parameters.