International Journal of Health Sciences

Changes In Hepatopancreatic Enzyme Profile in Serum of Costus Lucannusianus Treated Rats
Awhin, P.E., Ajoh, A.I, Onyesom, I. Erutere, B; Uzuegbu, U.E

Abstract
Medicinal plants have important contributions in the healthcare system especially in rural communities. One of such plants with a wide spectrum of patronage is Costus lucanusianus. This present study was carried out to investigate the subchronic effect ofCostus lucanusianus on the activities of hepatic and pancreatic enzymes in the serum of Wistar rats administered varying doses of the plant’s aqueous leaf extract. Fifteen (15) adultalbino Wistar rats weighing between 200-240g were randomly divided into three groups (n=5/group) and used. Group 1: Control (taking regular feed and water); Group 2: Experimental (administered 250mg/kg/d of C.lucanusianus aqueous extract daily); Group 3: Experimental (administered 500mg/kg/d of C.lucanusianus aqueous extractdaily). Each group was so treated for 14days and on the 15th day, the rats were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia after an overnight fast.Whole blood was collected and centrifuged to obtain serum which was then, used for the biochemical assay of amylase, lipase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase using documented methods and commercial reagent kits. Results show that Costus lucanusianus did not producesignificant changes (p≥0.05) in ALT (31.62±4.23IU/L and 32.00±2.07IU/L),AST(23.40±2.02IU/L and 23.37±2.61IU/L) and ALP(19.52±4.21IU/L and16.64±5.95IU/L) activities when compared to the control values (34.58±10.83IU/L, 33.43±3.87IU/L and 26.90±13.94IU/L respectively). Serum lipase levels did not produce any significant change(p≥0.05) in group administered 250mg/kg/d (130.20±14.51IU/L) but decreased significantly(p<0.05) in group administered 500mg/kg/d (62.60±16.54IU/L) when both compared to the control (130.60±7.09IU/L). Amylase activity levels were found toincrease significantly (p<0.05) in Costus lucanusianus administered groups (37.20±6.18IU/L and 67.40±31.15IU/L) when compared to the control group (20.40±6.07IU/L). Data indicate that Costus lucanusianus protects the liver but causes injury to the pancreas which affected it’s exocrine activity in regulating lipase and amylase activity levels, particularly at the higher dose (5500mg/kg/d). The implication of such selective activities of Costus lucanusianus needs to be further understood.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v5n4a8