Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effects of Costus Speciosus Rhizomes

The liver is the prime organ concerned with various states of metabolic and physiologic homeostasis of the organism. In modern medicine there is no specific cure for such fearful disease as infectious hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Treatment of many liver diseases is symptomatic and often disappointing since much is still obscure about their etiology. There is, however, a plethora of drugs in the indigenous system of medicine said to be useful in these disease.Costus speciosus (Zingiberaceae) commonly known as “Keukand” or “Kustha”in Hindi, used in Ayurvedic system of medicine as an anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, astringent, bitter, depurative, purgative and as stimulant. The plant is also used as anti- diabetic.An experimental investigation was carried out to explore the use of this drug as a hepatoprotective agent. The extract registered a significant fall in the levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALKP, SBLN and liver inflammation thus exhibited a significant hepatoprotective activity.