Hepato-protective Effect of Costus afer (Okpete) Juice Extract on Alcohol-induced Liver Toxicity in Adult Female Wistar Rats

Background: The oral intake of alcohol has become a widespread concern due to its high risk to body health. Therefore, our purpose in this study was to reveal the antioxidant efficacies of natural Costus's afer stem juice extract on hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol in adult female wistar rats.

Methods: We examined the impacts of liver toxicity, were the experimental animals were given 1ml of 10% ethanol daily for 21 days, thereafter, C. afer was administered to evaluate its ameliorative effect in the female albino wistar rats orally treated with C. afer juice extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 7days. The rats were divided into four (4) groups; Group A served as the control group, which was given rat chow and water only. Groups B, C and D were given 1ml of 10% ethanol. Afterwards, groups C and D were treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg using 1ml and 2ml of the juice extract of C. afer, respectively. A liver function test and histological analysis were carried out.

Results: The results showed that treatment with C. afer after the oral consumption of ethanol caused elevation in serum liver function parameters (alanine transferases, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphate), which is significant compared to the control group. There was also a slight restoration in histopathological changes in the liver, as revealed by decreased areas of inflammation.

Conclusion: The therapeutic efficiency of C. afer juice extract could be due to traces of anti-inflammatory properties and the ROS-scavenging agent. Our findings prove that the elevation of liver function markers by C. afer enables hepatic tissue to suppress inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms, resulting in enhanced liver structure and function. Therefore, C. afer extract is a protective and therapeutic supplement against toxic agents.