Cytokeratin Protein Expression, Glycogen Concentration and Liver Enzymes in the Rat's Liver After Treatment with Ethanol Stem Extract and Juice of CostusAfer.

Costus afer is a medicinal plant used as a therapy for diabetes and hypertension. The study investigated the effect of crude ethanolic extract of Costus afer stem and itsjuice on the expression of CK7 cytokeratin protein, histology and some enzymes in the liver. The study is designed to assess possible toxic effects of Costus afer extracts consumption in the liver using rat model. The study was carried out in the Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar between May and July, 2015. Twenty four (24) albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six animals each. Group one (I) served as control, Group two (II) served as experimental group and was tested with 200mg/kg body weight (low dose) of the crude ethanolic extract. Group three (III) also served as experimental group, tested with 500mg/kg body weight (high dose) of the crude ethanolic extract and Group four (IV) was tested with 500mg/kg body weight of Costus afer stem juice. Treatment was orally using orogastric tube for twenty eight (28) days. Result showed that there was a dose dependent reduction in the expression of cytokeratin protein, (CK7) in the test groups except those treated with the juice. Glycogen distribution was reduced with increasing dose and there was no significant effect in the serum levels of liver enzymes. In conclusion, this study suggests that the stem extract and the juice (in particular) of Costus afer may alter the molecular composition of the liver in a chronic consumption.

Key Words: Costus afer extract, liver histology, CK7, glycogen