OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum (Lamiaceae) and prediction of biological activities of its phytoconstituents using in vivo anti-diabetic model and in silico analysis respectively.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The leaves of O. tenuiflorum were extracted with 60% ethanol, and the extract was used for further pharmacological screening. The acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated as per the guidelines set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, revised draft guidelines 423. The oral anti-diabetic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) was studied against streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg; i.p.) + nicotinamide (120 mg/kg; i.p.) induced diabetes mellitus. The animals were treated with the investigational plant extract and standard drug (glibenclamide) for 21 consecutive days and the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum on blood glucose levels was measured at regular intervals. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from all the animals for biochemical estimation, then the animals were sacrificed and the liver and kidney were collected for organ weight analysis. Prediction for pharmacological and toxicological properties of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum was carried out using online web tools such as online pass prediction and lazar toxicity prediction.
RESULTS: The hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity at 250 and 500 mg/kg, and this effect was comparable with that of glibenclamide. Predicted biological activities of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum showed presence of various pharmacological actions, which includes anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. Prediction of toxicological properties of phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum did not show any major toxic effects.
CONCLUSION: The hydroalcoholic extract of O. tenuiflorum showed significant anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity against STZ + nicotinamide induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Further studies are required to confirm the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities of individual phytoconstituents of O. tenuiflorum.
KEYWORDS: Anti-diabetic activity; Anti-hyperlipidemic activity; In silico analysis; Ocimum tenuiflorum; Phytoconstituents
Ocimum sanctum is a sacred herb of India and is commonly known as 'Tulsi' or 'Holy Basil' in regional languages of the country. Various parts of O. sanctum are recognised to have remarkable therapeutic efficacy, and are therefore used in Indian traditional medicine system, Ayurveda. Scientific studies have shown that O. sanctum has a range of pharmacological activities. The presence of a substantial amount of polyphenols in O. sanctum could be the reason for its excellent bioactivity. Polyphenols are used to prevent or treat oncologic diseases due to their anti-cancer effects, which are related to activation of apoptotic signaling, cell cycle arrest, binding ability with membrane receptors, and potential effects on immunomodulation and epigenetic mechanisms. The poor bioavailability of polyphenols restricts their clinical use. The application of nanonization has been implemented to improve their bioavailability, penetrability, and prolong their anticancer action. The present review analyses the recent preclinical studies related to the chemo-preventive and therapeutic potential of polyphenols present in O. sanctum. Moreover, the current article also examines in-depth the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in the antineoplastic actions of the considered polyphenols.
The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using the green route is an effective strategy in nanotechnology that provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to physical and chemical methods. This study aims to prepare an aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum)-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through the green route and test their antibacterial activity. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were characterised by colour change, UV spectrometric analysis, FTIR, and particle shape and size morphology by SEM and TEM images. The nanoparticles are almost spherical to oval or rod-shaped with smooth surfaces and have a mean particle size in the range of 55 nm with a zeta potential of -2.7 mV. The antibacterial activities of AgNPs evaluated against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) showed that the AgNPs from O. sanctum are effective in inhibiting A. baumannii growth with a zone of inhibition of 15 mm in the agar well diffusion method and MIC and MBC of 32 µg/mL and 64 µg/mL, respectively. The SEM images of A. baumannii treated with AgNPs revealed damage and rupture in bacterial cells. The time-killing assay by spectrophotometry revealed the time- and dose-dependent killing action of AgNPs against A. baumannii, and the assay at various concentrations and time intervals indicated a statistically significant result in comparison with the positive control colistin at 2 µg/mL (P
The current study aimed to determine the best dose of methanol extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. leaves extract, and it is a fraction to blood-glucose-lowering in diabetic rats, and evaluated the α-amylase, α-glucosidase inhibitors and insulin level of diabetic rats used to achieve greater control over hyperglycemia. The result of the antihyperglycaemic of oral administration of a different dose of methanol extract in streptozotocin-induced rats showed that the highest dose of methanol extract significantly reduced the blood glucose level compared to another dose. Also, the result of repeated administration of methanol fractions indicates that ethyl acetate-butanol fraction exhibited a stronger antihyperglycemic effect than chloroform and ethanol-water fractions. Moreover, the result showed that effect of methanol extract and its fraction on α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes activities and its insulin level by in vitro study, ethyl acetate-butanol fraction could control with low concentration compared to other fractions and acarbose that used as a positive control. From the result of insulin level, methanol extract and fraction did not show any significant. These findings indicated that the active crude extract (methanol) and its active fractions (ethyl acetate/butanol) could exert significant glucose-lowering effect due to the presence of polyphenolics active constituents. In conclusion, isolation of the active components of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. may pave the way to the development of new agents for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.
Conventional anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay of medical treatment for deep vein thrombosis disorders. However,there are many complications associated with these agents such as bleeding. Hence, the search for novel anticoagulant derived from natural substances such as plants origin is in high demand nowadays. Ocimum sanctum(O.sanctum) also known as Ocimum tenuiform (OT), tulsi or holy basil from the family of Lamiaceae has been widely used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and Unani systems to cure or prevent a number of illnessessuch as headache, malaria, ulcers, bronchitis, cough, flu, sore throat and asthma. The objective is to investigate theeffect ofO. sanctum(Tulsi) aqueous leaf extract on prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) in human plasma. Coagulation activity of O. sanctum was measured via PT, APTT and TT assay in citrated plasma collected from thirty-six healthy regular blood donors. The plasma was tested against different concentrations of O. sanctum aqueous extract as follows: 0.1mg/ml, 0.5 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml. Result shows the aqueous extract of O. sanctum prolonged the PT and APTT assays (p0.05). The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis had identified the linolenic acid at 1-10% of ethanol and aqueousconcentration at different retention time which was responsible for the coagulation activities of O. sanctumin human plasma. This study suggests that O. sanctum does affect coagulation activity in human plasma and can be potentially used as naturally derived anticoagulant products in the future.