Hepatoprotective effect of Costus afer (Lin) on toxic metal mixture treated rats mediated by regulation of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines and bio-metal chelation

Introduction and aim. Cadmium, lead, and mercury have been considered to exhibit their hepatotoxic effects by oxida tive induction damage and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The current work evaluated the protective activ ity of aqueous leaf extracts of Costus afer (ALECA) on liver damage arising from exposure to toxic metal mixture (TMM): 1.61 mg/kg cadmium chloride (CdCl2), 20 mg/kg lead chloride (PbCl2), and 0.40 mg/kg mercury chloride (HgCl2). Material and methods. Five groups of weight-matched Sprague Dawley rats were treated for 90 days. Metal mixtures and deionized water were used to treat the 2 groups of rats whereas the other 3 groups were treated with various doses of the ALECA through oral gavage with TMM. Hepatic function parameters, oxidative biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, mor phological changes, and metal levels in the liver were monitored. Results. Treatment with TMM resulted in significant increases in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phos phatase, bilirubin, interleukin 6, malondialdehyde, but decreased albumin, total protein, interleukin 10, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione levels. TMM also caused some morphological changes and increased the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg) in the liver. Conclusion. ALECA showed beneficial effects against TMM-induced hepatotoxicity via metal chelation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant mechanism. ALECA may be beneficial in the management of liver toxicity.