Beneficial Effects ofOcimum gratissimumAqueous Extract on Rats with CCl₄-Induced Acute Liver Injury

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:italic>Ocimum gratissimum</jats:italic>(OG) is known as a food spice and traditional herb, which has been recommended for the treatment of various diseases. To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of OG aqueous extract (OGAE), male Wistar rats challenged by carbon tetrachloride (CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>) were used as the animal model of chronic hepatic injury. Significantly increased serum catalase and DPPH levels were detected in CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>-administrated rats that were treated with OGAE or silymarin as compared to those rats that were treated with saline or CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>. In contrast, significantly decreased stress proteins including HSP70 and iNOS were observed in livers of CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>-administrated rats that were treated with OGAE or sylimarin as compared to those rats that were treated with saline or CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>. Moreover, significant decreases of MMP-9/MMP-2 ratio, uPA, phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) and NF-<jats:italic>κ</jats:italic>B (p-P65) were detected in livers of CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>-administrated rats that were treated with OGAE or sylimarin as compared to those rats that were treated with saline or CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>. These findings imply that OGAE can efficiently inhibit CCl<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>-induced liver injuries in rats and may therefore be a potential food or herb for preventing liver injuries.</jats:p>

Ocimum gratissmum aqueous extract reduces plasma lipid in hypercholesterol-fed hamsters

“…The filtrate was centrifuged to remove insoluble pellets (20,000 g for 15 min at 4◦C) and the supernatant (OGE) was collected, lyophilized, and stored at -70◦C until use. The content of polyphenol in OGE was analyzed as indicated in a previous paper 35.…”

“…Thus, some of more recent researches focus on its role of immune-modulation 29, 30, cancer chemoprevention 31, 34, and prevention of the vulnerability of immune disorder 30. Moreover, OGE is well documented for its high concentration of phenolic content and effects on free radicals scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and cytoprotective activity against oxidative stress 20, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of OGE in preventing hyperlipidemia by using the high fat-cholesterol diet animal model.…”

Disturbances in Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Hormones in Rats Exposed to CCL4 and/ or Gamma-Irradiation

“…Therefore, the elevation of hepatic lipid peroxidation observed in this study could be an outcome of CCl 4 -induced cellular damage. It could also be due to the decreased GSH level as observed in this study as well as endogenous antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT and GPX (Ashry, 2008 andChiu et al, 2012). The decreased GSH level after CCl 4 administration might be due to its increased utilization by the hepatocytes in scavenging toxic radicals of CCl 4 (Bhadauria et al, 2008).…”

Ocimum gratissimumretards breast cancer growth and progression and is a natural inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases

“…45 OG aqueous extract was shown to reduce MMP-9 activity in male Wistar rats injected with carbon tetrachloride to induce liver injury. 46 Ethanol extracts of O. sanctum significantly inhibited cell adhesion and invasion as well as activities of MMP-9, but not MMP-2, in mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. 4 However, in none of these studies an analysis of enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was performed.…”