Phytophenolics Composition of the Methanol Extract of Ocimum basilieum L. leaves and its Role in Mitigating Hypercholesterolemia in a Rat Model

Title:Phytophenolics Composition of the Methanol Extract of Ocimum basilieum L. leaves and its Role in Mitigating Hypercholesterolemia in a Rat Model

Volume: 17 Issue: 5

Author(s): Ali M. El-Hagrassi, Asmaa F. Aboul Naser, Abeer F. Osman and Manal A. Hamed*

Affiliation:

• Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St., 12622, Dokki, Giza,Egypt

Keywords: Ocimum basilieum L., phenolic and flavonoid compounds, hyperlipidemia, antioxidants, hypercholesterolemia, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Abstract:

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is considered as one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ocimum basilieum L. against hypercholesterolemia in rats.

Methods: Isolation and identification of flavonoid compounds from the methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum L. leaves were performed by UV, ¹H, ¹³C-NMR and1D/2D NMR, HMBC and HMQC techniques. The biochemical evaluation was performed through measuring Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglycerides (TG), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), aspartate and Alanine Aminotransferases (AST & ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine and albumin levels as well as DNA fragmentation pattern of kidneys. The histopathological features of liver and kidney were also examined.

Results: The phytochemical study revealed the presence of seven flavonoid compounds (apigenin- 8-C-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-O –glucopyranoside (1), apigenin 6, 8-di-C-β-glucopyranoside (vicenin 2) (2), apigenin 7-O-(6”-O-trans-p-coumaryl)-β–glucopyranoside (3), apigenin 7-O- β-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin 8-C-β-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (5), apigenin -6-C-β-glucopyranoside (isovitexin) (6), apigenin (7)) and one phenolic compound; rosmarinic acid (8). Treatment with leaves extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight for nine weeks simultaneously with oral cholesterol administration (30 mg/0.3 ml 0.7% tween/ animal) to rats fed with high fat diet restored all the biochemical parameters and the architectures of liver and kidney.

Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Ocimum basilieum L. leaves succeeded to act as a hypolipidemic, antioxidant and hepato-renal therapeutic agent due to its rich biologically active phenolic and flavonoids compounds.

Cite this article as:

El-Hagrassi M. Ali , Aboul Naser F. Asmaa , Osman F. Abeer and Hamed A. Manal *, Phytophenolics Composition of the Methanol Extract of Ocimum basilieum L. leaves and its Role in Mitigating Hypercholesterolemia in a Rat Model, Current Bioactive Compounds 2021; 17 (5) : e010621185168 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573407216999200820161524