Aim:The study is to investigate the impact of Costus afer methanolic stem extract on lipid metabolic profiles and bilirubin levels in alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis progression in rats. Materials and Methods: Male wistar strain albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control (normal feed and water only), Costus afer control (CA), Ethanol control (Ethanol), ethanol + Costus afer (60mg) treated rats (CA + ETHANOL) and ethanol + Costus afer (120mg) treated rats (CACA + ETHANOL). Serum levels of lipids and bilirubin were measured. Results: The result showed that ethanol only administration caused triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and bilirubin to increase by 46.1%, 64.3%, 10.71% and 0.18% respectively compared to control rats (p<0.05). High density lipoprotein was shown to have decreased by 11.2% compared to the control.

Direct patient care practiced in community pharmacy settings remains among the best remedy to the ever-emerging meddling practices of allied health and non-health personnel in the health promotion and disease prevention function of the pharmacy profession. The professional strides for totally owning this hub, though in the progress, were not easy in prehistoric times, nor is it getting any easier now. This study determines the extent of practice carried out in direct patient activities (patient counseling, patient care and technology standards) in community pharmacies in Bayelsa and Rivers states as at the year 2017. Of the three hundred and thirty seven (337) questionnaires distributed, three hundred and twelve (312) were retrieved (92.58% retrieval rate). The questionnaire was constructed in likert form with responses as “never”, “rarely”, “sometimes”, “often” and “always”. The results were analyzed using non parametric analysis using SPSS version 23. Young male pharmacists having B.Pharm (177; 56.7%) with 6 to 10 years’ experience (140; 44.9%) in self-owned premises (190; 60.8%) were observed to contribute significantly to the study domains. Pharmacists were reported to always carry out patient counseling activities (44.2%), always carry out patient care activities (35.9%) and never, apply technological applications in community pharmacies (45.9%) in the study area. Community Pharmacy Practice is below recommended standards in the two states. Improvement is needed in the hub of direct patient care to maintain the needed pharmaceutical care practice and philosophy.