Protective Effect of Costus afer Aqueous Leaf Extract (CALE) on Low-Dose Heavy Metal Mixture-Induced Alterations in Serum Lipid Profile and Hematological Parameters of Male Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The present work investigated the protective effects of Costus afer Ker Gawl. aqueous leaf extract (CALE) on lipid profile and hematological changes induced by exposure to low-dose heavy metal mixture in male albino rats. The experimental animals were divided into six weight matched groups. The normal (group 1) and toxic (group 2) controls received deionized water and metal mixture (20 mg/kg PbCl₂, 1.61 mg/kg CdCl₂, and 0.40 mg/kg HgCl₂), respectively. Test rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with metal mixture and CALE (750, 1500, and 2250 mg/kg, respectively), and group 6 received metal mixture and ZnCl₂. All treatments were administered through oral gavage for 12 weeks. LDHMM caused a marked increase (p < 0.05) in cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), percentage body weight gain, and feed and fluid intake. Also, a significant decrease in RBC, Hb, and PCV, a significant increase in WBC, and no significant increase in platelet PLT were observed in the metal mixture-treated group. But in CALE treated groups, their levels were found to attain almost normal values as found in normal control which is also similar to the zinc-treated group. Costus afer may hold a promise in improving lipid profile and hemodynamic picture in cardiovascular diseases.

Figure 1

Effect of Costus afer on body weight of male albino rats exposed to heavy metal mixture.

Figure 2

Effect of Costus afer on lipid profile parameters of male albino rats treated with metal mixture.

Figure 3

A parallel coordinates plot showing clustering of lipid profile interaction in different groups.

Figure 4

Correlation plot of lipid profile parameters on male albino rats against the generated factors (F1 and F2). Variables (axes F1 and F2: 97.13%).

Figure 5

Score plot illustrating the differentiation of parameters associated with interactions among lipid profile parameters. A three-component system explaining 100% of total variance was observed after statistical PC analysis.

Figure 6

Interelemental correlation among toxic metals within blood of rats showed strong positive correlation (r > 0.90) between metals such as (a) Cd and Pb, (b) Hg and Pb, and (c) Hg and Cd during the study. All correlations were significant at p < 0.01.

Figure 7

Predicted total cholesterol level against observed one as a lipid profile parameter, where y = total cholesterol levels and x = Costus afer concentrations served as input values.

Figure 8

Predicted HDL level against observed one as a lipid profile parameter, where y = HDL levels and x = Costus afer concentrations served as input values.

Figure 9

Predicted LDL level against observed one as a lipid profile parameter, where y = LDL levels and x = Costus afer concentrations served as input values.

Figure 10

Predicted triglyceride level against observed as a lipid profile parameter, where y = triglyceride levels and x = Costus afer concentrations served as input values.