Potential use of Indonesian basil (Ocimum basilicum) maceration to increase estradiol and progesterone synthesis and secretion to improve prenatal growth of offspring using female albino rats as an animal model

Abstract

Background and Aim: Basil is well known as a medicinal plant that contains high essential oils and antioxidant compounds that have the potential to improve ovarian development. Thus, basil may have the potential to improve the growth and development of the uterus and placenta for optimal prenatal growth of offspring. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Indonesian basil maceration on gonad development of mature female albino rats. Materials and Methods: Fifteen 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats, at the diestrus stage of the estrus cycle, were divided into three different treatment groups: Control group (mineral water), bas-low group (1% of basil maceration), and bas-high group (5% of basil maceration). Basil maceration was dissolved and administered in mineral drinking water, and the treatments were given for 20 days (4 estrus cycles). At the end of the treatment period, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and progesterone (Pg) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative weight of the ovary and uterus; diameter and length of uterine cornual; vascularization of uterus; the diameter of uterine glands; the number of primary, secondary, and tertiary de Graaf follicles; the number of corpora luteum; as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the ovary were determined. Results: There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the serum FSH level of rats treated with basil maceration drinking water doses of 1% and 5% compared to the control group. However, serum estradiol and Pg concentrations in the 1% and 5% basil maceration groups were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the control group. Furthermore, 1% and 5% basil maceration significantly increased the uterus's relative weight, diameter, and vascularization. Serum estradiol concentrations contributed to the elevated expression of VEGF compared to Pg. Conclusion: Administration of basil maceration for 20 days before mating could improve follicle growth and development, eventually increasing estradiol synthesis and secretion, thus improving the uterus's preparation for implantation. This makes basil maceration an attractive candidate in clinical research to enhance the growth and development of the uterus and placenta, which will better support the optimum prenatal growth and development of embryos and fetuses, resulting in superior offspring.

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“…Excess antioxidants result in the body being unable to distinguish between radicals that play a physiological role and radicals that cause oxidative damage to biomolecules. Elimination of all free radicals will not prolong the body's normal functions, but on the contrary, will damage the body's overall performance [23,24]. The increase in FSHr which coincided with the increase in the dose of ethanol extract also did not rule out the possibility of a sign of a polymorphism gene in FSHr due to the appearance of an anomaly at the third dose.…”

Ethanol extract of basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.) leaves inhibits endometriosis growth in a mouse model by modulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression

“…Estrogen directly modulates angiogenesis through its effect on endothelial cells by inducing endothelial proliferation and migration mediated by estrogen receptors [45]. Andrianto et al showed that high concentrations of estrogen and prostaglandins in experimental rats treated with ethanol extract of basil (Ocimum basilicum L) leaves had greater uterine vascularization by increasing VEGF expression [29]. Research by Machado et al stated that severe, very active red endometriosis lesions contained the highest concentration of VEGF compared to mild endometriosis [5].…”

“…The mice were housed in a controlled cage with a stable environment, adequate ventilation, and room temperatures of 22oC-25oC. Throughout the study, the mice had access to food and water ad libitum [29]. Mice were divided into 4 groups: the control group (C) and three treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) receiving ethanol extract of basil leaves at varying doses (0.21 mg/g-BW, 0.42 mg/g-BW and 0.84 mg/g-BW).…”

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“…The environment where the mice were placed was regulated by temperature and humidity according to the temperature between 22-25 ᵒC and humidity between 45-65%. Feeding and access to drinking water during the study were given ad libitum [15,19].…”

“…This could be due to the content of phytochemical compounds such as euginal, euginol, sitosterol, ursolic acid, and stigmasterol in basil leaves which act as phytoandrogens or phytoestrogens [45]. Basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum L.) contain orientin, vicenin, and isoflavones which are estrogenic which can increase exogenous estrogen, bind to estrogen receptors in the body, and proliferate the uterus [19,46,47]. Isoflavones can cause an estrogen-raising effect in many tissues.…”