Costus improves atorvastatin-induced myotoxicity in rats: Histopathological, Ultrastructural, and biochemical studies

Abstract

Background: Hyperlipidemia is the main cause of cardiac arrest and death; atorvastatin is the best medicine for its treatment.Increase its use has led to the appearance of side effects especially muscles. Costus is a medicinal herb that prevents the risksof poisoning that occur because of the use of atorvastatin. The aim of this study is to evaluate the costus extract against themyotoxicity of atorvastatin on male albino rats.Methods: Eighty adult albino rats were used, divided into four groups each is twenty rats, the first group as a control, givenonly water throughout the experiment. The second group was given Costus root extract at a dose (0.4 mg/kg) daily. The thirdgroup was given 50 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin liquified in pure water and the fourth group was given the extract of the rootof the costus at a dose (0.4 mg/kg) daily with 50 mg/kg / A Day of atorvastatin liquefied in pure water daily 90 days, via agastric tube. After the end of the experiment, rats were anesthetized and excision of extensor digitorum longus then evaluatinghistopathology of muscles by light and electron microscopes and evaluating serum cardiac enzymes, potassium, creatinine andserum (CPK).Results: Significant abnormalities in all biomarkers of muscle toxicity with its degenerative changes and use of the root extractof costus with the sub-chronic intake of atorvastatin ameliorating signs of muscle toxicity.Conclusions: Sub-chronic use of atorvastatin could cause myotoxicity On the contrary antioxidant costus may help to preventatorvastatin-induced myotoxicity.