Assessment of the in vitro anti-lipid peroxidative activity of Costus afer stem extract

Abstract

Objective: Costus afer is a perennial monocot consumed as a remedy for various ailments. The present study investigates the effect of Costus afer stem extract on ferrous/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain, liver and kidney homogenates. The inherent antioxidant and free radical scavenging potentials of the extract were also assessed using various in-vitro models. Methods: Homogenates of isolated tissues were prepared and lipid peroxidation was induced using the ferrous/ascorbate system and subsequently incubated with various concentrations of the extract. The ability of the methanolic extract to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide and its ability to reduce ferric ions were investigated. The total antioxidant potential via the phosphomolybdate method was also measured. Results: The results revealed that Costus afer stem extract reduced tissue lipid peroxidation induced by ferrous/ascorbate. The extract also possessed significant antioxidant/free radical scavenging activity via the other in vitro models. In all cases, the effects were concentration-dependent. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of Costus afer stem possessed significant antioxidant potential ascribable to important phytochemicals and could protect cells/tissues from reactive oxygen species-induced damage. Thus the plant has high pharmacological and ethnobotanical prospects.