DOI: 10.21276/sasjm.2018.4.2.3

Pages: 26-39

The presence of certain enzymes in the blood and at a high concentration indicates damage to the liver, also reduced concentration of bilirubin is associated with cardiovascular risk and other diseases. This study was aimed at observing the ability of costus afer stem extract to maintain the integrity of the liver. Costus afer stem was extracted and given at concentrations of 0.25 ml/100g, 0.5 ml/100g, 1 ml/100g and 2 ml/100g once daily to induced diabetic rats, comparing their effect with that of metformin treated diabetic rats. At the end of each week three rats were sacrificed from each group and subjected to experimental and statistical analysis. Induction of diabetes using alloxan led to an increase in AST, ALT and ALP concentration in serum, as concentration of costus afer stem extract increased AST, ALT and ALP of the treated diabetic rats reduced. Administration of costus afer plant resulted in reduction of AST, ALT and ALP concentration in diabetic rats, the reduction was significant for just AST and ALT. There was no effect on serum bilirubin and albumin, serum protein concentration increased as the concentration of plant extract increased with a significant difference from the untreated diabetic rats. Costus afer stem extract possess the ability to restore damage caused to the liver by diabetes.