Antioxidant Activity and Lipid-Lowering Effect of Essential Oils Extracted from Ocimum sanctum L. Leaves in Rats Fed with a High Cholesterol Diet

Abstract

It has been reported that Ocimum sanctum L. (OS) leaves decrease serum lipid profile in normal and diabetic animals. No experimental evidences support the anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidative actions against hypercholesterolemia. Moreover the identity of the specific chemical ingredients in OS leaves responsible for these pharmacological effects are unknown. Since OS leaves are rich in essential oil (EO). Therefore the present study was conducted to investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidative activities of EO extracted from OS leaves in rats fed with high cholesterol (HC) diet. EO was extracted by the hydrodistillation method and the chemical constituents were then identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The experiment was performed in Male Wistar rats fed with 2.5 g%(w/w) of cholesterol diet for seven weeks. During the last 3 weeks, rats were daily fed with EO. The results showed that phenyl propanoid compounds including eugenol and methyl eugenol were the major constituents of EO. EO suppressed the high serum lipid profile and atherogenic index as well as serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase MB subunit without significant effect on high serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in rats fed with HC diet. In addition, EO was found to decrease the high levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) without impacting catalase (CAT) in the cardiac tissue while in the liver, it decreased high level of TBARS without significantly effecting GPx, SOD and CAT. Histopathological results confirmed that EO preserved the myocardial tissue. It can be concluded that EO extracted from OS leaves has lipid-lowering and antioxidative effects that protect the heart against hypercholesterolemia. Eugenol that is contained in EO likely contribute to these pharmacological effects.

Antidyslipidemic Effect of Ocimum sanctum Leaf Extract in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Kelm et al [24,25] found that leaves and stems of Ocimum sanctum contains cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, and appreciable quantities of eugenol and all these are known to possess potent lipid lowering and antioxidant activities. Suanarunsawat et al [26] also reported that feeding with essential Values are mean ± SD of six rats. Values in the parenthesis are % change.…”

<i>Olea europaea</i> Linn (Oleaceae) Fruit Pulp Exhibits Hypocholesterolemic and Hepatoprotective Effects via Regulation of Peroxisome Proliferation-Activated Receptor Alpha in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

“…Although the progression of CVD is multifactorial, modern lifestyle with high-cholesterol diet and less physical activity contributes to hypercholesterolemia which is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of CVD [9,10]. In addition, hypercholesterolemia can result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a pathological condition of emerging clinical importance and considered as the most common cause of abnormal liver function [11].…”

Chemical composition and effect of an essential oil of Salix aegyptiaca L., Salicaceae, (musk willow) in hypercholesterolemic rabbit model

“…It is widely known that both the liver and heart are at risk in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemic diet feeding induces oxidative stress to injure the liver and heart (Suanarunsawat et al, 2010).…”