Multi-organ protective effect of Costus afer on low concentration toxic metal mixture in albino rats.

Heavy metal mixture can induce multiple organ damage through oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Dietary intervention using natural antidotes in resource poor countries where classical metal chelators are either not affordable or available can be explored as an alternative means of management of public health effects of chronic heavy metal exposure. The search for natural antidote against the deleterious effects of heavy metals gives the thrust for this study. Thus, the study investigated the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer on liver, kidney, brain and testis induced by low dose heavy metal mixture (LDHMM) of PbCl2, CdCl2 and HgCl2 of concentrations of 20 mg/kg, 1.61 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg, respectively. Five groups of seven rats each (weight-matched) were used. First and second groups received deionized water and heavy metal mixture and served as normal and toxic controls, respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received through oral gavage 750, 1500, 2250 mg/kg of the Costus afer extract respectively, with the metal mixture concurrently. All treatments were four times a week for 90 days (4/week/90 days). Hepatorenal, hormonal, oxidative stress markers, cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-10), and heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Hg) concentrations were assayed. The one-way analysis of variance, agglomerative hierarchical clustering, parallel coordinates plot, principal component analysis and Bray Curtis dissimilarity were used to statistically analyze the data. LDHMM caused significant changes in these organs and however, the plant extract provided a protective effect against these pathological changes. The statistical analysis revealed that the kidney was the most affected organ, followed by the liver, then brain and testis, respectively. Costus afer may be an important nutraceutical in multi-organ deleterious effects of LDHMM following its regulation of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines and biometal chelation.

Protective Effect of Costus afer Aqueous Leaf Extract (CALE) on Low-Dose Heavy Metal Mixture-Induced Alterations in Serum Lipid Profile and Hematological Parameters of Male Wistar Albino Rats.

The present work investigated the protective effects of Costus afer Ker Gawl. aqueous leaf extract (CALE) on lipid profile and hematological changes induced by exposure to low-dose heavy metal mixture in male albino rats. The experimental animals were divided into six weight matched groups. The normal (group 1) and toxic (group 2) controls received deionized water and metal mixture (20 mg/kg PbCl2, 1.61 mg/kg CdCl2, and 0.40 mg/kg HgCl2), respectively. Test rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with metal mixture and CALE (750, 1500, and 2250 mg/kg, respectively), and group 6 received metal mixture and ZnCl2. All treatments were administered through oral gavage for 12 weeks. LDHMM caused a marked increase (p < 0.05) in cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), percentage body weight gain, and feed and fluid intake. Also, a significant decrease in RBC, Hb, and PCV, a significant increase in WBC, and no significant increase in platelet PLT were observed in the metal mixture-treated group. But in CALE treated groups, their levels were found to attain almost normal values as found in normal control which is also similar to the zinc-treated group. Costus afer may hold a promise in improving lipid profile and hemodynamic picture in cardiovascular diseases.

Neuroprotective effect of Costus afer on low dose heavy metal mixture (lead, cadmium and mercury) induced neurotoxicity via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities.

Humans are constantly exposed to heavy metals due to their ubiquity in the environment. Hence, this study investigated the possible protective effect of Costus afer aqueous leaf extract (CALE) against low dose heavy metal mixture (LDHMM)-induced neurotoxicity. Male albino rats were divided into 6 equal groups. Group 1 served as the normal control receiving only deionized water. Group 2 served as the toxic control receiving on metal mixture (20 mg/kg PbCl2, 1.61 mg/kg CdCl2 and 0.40 mg/kg HgCl2), groups 3, 4 and 5 were co-treated with metal mixture and CALE (750, 1500 and 2250 mg/kg body weight, respectively) and group 6 was treated with metal mixture and ZnCl2. All treatments were administered through oral gavage for 90days. Oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione content (GSH) and catalase (CAT)], inflammatory cytokines [interlukin-6 (IL-6) and interlukin-10 (IL-10)], histopathological changes and heavy metal concentration were determined in brain of rats. Results indicated that LDHMM significantly increased (p < 0.05) the lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6), while lowered levels of the oxidative biomarkers (SOD, CAT and GSH) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). Also, LDHMM caused some histopathological changes such as reactive gliosis and glia cell proliferation. LDHMM elevated the lead, cadmium and mercury concentrations in the brain. Severity of the distorted cortical parameters were ameliorated by CALE administration. The CALE induced significant protective effect on LDHMM-mediated neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner which may be a result of its antioxidant anti-inflammatory and metal chelation mechanisms.

Low-dose heavy metal mixture (lead, cadmium and mercury)-induced testicular injury and protective effect of zinc and Costus afer in wistar albino rats.

The study evaluated the protective effect of Costus afer on low-dose heavy metal mixture (LDHMM)-mediated effects in the testis of albino rats. The weight-matched animals were divided into six groups: normal control, metal mixture of (PbCl2  + CdCl2 + HgCl2 ), combination of metal mixture + Costus afer at 750 mg/kg, combination of metal mixture + Costus afer at 1,500 mg/kg, combination of metal mixture + Costus afer at 2,250 mg/kg and combination of metal mixture + (ZnCl2 ). LDHMM reduced (p < .05) the antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione, GSH) and increased (p < .05) the lipid peroxidation marker (malondialdehyde, MDA) and lead, cadmium and mercury concentrations in the testis. Treatment with LDHMM increased (p < .05) abnormal sperm morphology and plasma prolactin (PRL) level and decreased epididymal sperm count, viability, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone. LDHMM exposure caused deleterious changes in the testis. Treatment of rats with Costus afer (750, 1,500 and 2,250 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced (p < .05) the LDHMM-mediated toxicity. Treatment with Costus afer also reversed the testicular weight and LDHMM decrease in antioxidant biomarkers. Costus afer may be a defensive modulator of LDHMM-mediated testicular lesions.