OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Costus speciosus and C. tonkinensis (Zingiberaceae) distributed in Yunnan province.

METHODChromatography and spectral analyses were used to isolate the constituents and elucidate their structure.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated from the rhizome of C. speciosus and elucidated as diosgenin(1), prosapogenin B of dioscin(2), diosgenone(3), cycloartanol(4), 25-en-cycloartenol(5) and octacosanoic acid(6). Four compounds were isolated from the rhizome of Costus tonkinensis and elucidated as tetracosanoic acid(7), succinic acid(8), beta-sitosterol(9) and daucosterin(10).

CONCLUSIONCompounds of 3-6 were obtained from C. speciosus for the first time and compounds of 7-10 were obtained from C. tonkinensis for the first time too.

Costus ; chemistry ; classification ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Spiro Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Some plants have proven efficacy in the management of diabetes mellitus, of which Costus afer is one. This study was designed to evaluate the cytological and biochemical properties, and comparative ameliorating effects, of an aqueous extract of Costus afer Ker Gawl. (Costaceae) leaf and glibenclamide (GBM), in liver, kidney, and pancreatic injury induced by alloxan. Thirty male albino rats were divided into six weight-matched groups. Group one served as the negative control (non-induced and non-treated, control), while groups 2-6 were alloxan-induced diabetic groups. Group 2 served as a positive control (induced and non-treated, IC), groups 3-5 were treated with different doses of the extract (375, 750, and 1,125 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide, respectively. Body weight, absolute and relative organ weights, food and fluid intake, levels of serum glucose and liver enzymes and kidney parameters were calculated and compared. Hepatocytes, renal tubules, and pancreatic cells of diabetic rats, in diabetic non-treated and treated rats were harvested and examined histopathologically. There was dose dependent amelioration on the injuries induced by alloxan on both hepatocytes, renal tubules, and pancreatic cells after treatment with Costus afer. The glucose level was reduced significantly in the Costus afer treated diabetic rats compared with the non-treated diabetic group. Costus afer leaves seem to be effective against diabetic cell injury induced in rat liver, kidney, and pancreas.
Alloxan ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Costus ; chemistry ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Size ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar