title: Insulin Plant (Costus pictus) Extract Restores Thyroid Hormone Levels in Experimental Hypothyroidism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect ofCostus pictusleaf extract in experimental hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with ten rats in each group: Control (C), hypothyroid (H), control+extract (C+E), and hypothyroid+extract (H+E). Rats in C group did not receive any intervention throughout the experimental period. The rats in the C+E and H+E groups received pretreatment withC. pictusleaf extract for 4 weeks. Subsequently, for the next 6 weeks, rats in the H group received 0.05% propylthiouracil in drinking water while C+E group receivedC. pictusleaf extract and H+E group received propyl thiouracil andC. pictusleaf extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypothyroid group rats exhibited dramatic increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with concomitant depletion in the levels of thyroid hormones. Treatment with the extract resulted in remarkable improvement in thyroid profile. Extract produced 10.59-fold increase in plasma free T3, 8.65-fold increase in free T4, and 3.59-fold decrease in TSH levels in H+E group in comparison with H group. Treatment with the extract ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, decreased levels of plasma C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha, suppressed tissue oxidative stress and prevented hepatic and renal damage caused due to thyroid hormone depletion in the H+E group. Pentacyclic triterpenes alpha and beta amyrins were identified and quantified in the extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to reveal thatC. pictusextract has therapeutic potential to restore thyroid hormone levels and prevent the biochemical complications due to thyroid hormone insufficiency in the animal model of experimental hypothyroidism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preventive effect ofCostus pictusleaf extract in experimental hypothyroidism was evaluated in the present study.Hypothyroidism was induced in the experimental animals by giving 0.05% propylthiouracil in drinking water.Hypothyroid rats exhibited dramatic increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with concomitant depletion in the levels of thyroid hormones.Treatment withCostus pictusleaf extract in hypothyroid rats significantly improved the thyroid profile. It also ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, decreased the levels of plasma inflammatory markers, suppressed tissue oxidative stress and prevented hepatic and renal damage caused due to thyroid hormone depletion.The possible active principles alpha and beta amyrins were identified and quantified in the extract through LC-MS.Abbreviations Used:APCI: Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; C group: Control group; C+E group: Control+extract group;C. pictus:Costus pictus; CRP: C-reactive protein; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power; HDL: High-density lipoprotein; H group: Hypothyroid group; H+E group: Hypothyroid+extract group; LDL: Low-density lipoprotein; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; MDA: Malondialdehyde; PTU: 6-Propyl-2-thiouracil; SRM: Single reaction monitoring; TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone; TPTZ: 2,4,6-tri-(2-pyridyl)-5-triazine; TBA: 2-Thiobarbituric acid; TG: Triglyceride; TNFα: Tumor necrosis factor alpha; TAS: Total antioxidant status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashwini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Zachariah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bobby
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sridhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cleetus
keywords: Costus pictus; hypothyroidism; insulin plant; propylthiouracil; thyroid hormones