An in-vivo analysis of the protective effect of the methanol extract of ocimumbasilicum (L.)(MAEOB) on ethanol-induced oxidative stress in albino rats.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of graded doses of methanol and aqueousextract of Ocimumbasilicum(L.)(MAEOB) onthe oxidative stress induced by ethanol toxicity. Forty male albino rats of Wister strain were divided into eight groups of five rats each andfour groups were named as positive control(PC) and another four as experimental groups(EX). The experimental groups(EX) were treated with graded doses of extract together with alcoholand a pretreated group , the treatment was carried out for 30 days and the blood and liver tissue were collected for histopathological and biochemical estimations.In the four experimental groups,the biochemical estimations indicated that the extract could control and prevent the toxic effects produced during alcohol metabolism in a dose dependent manner. The results indicated that there were no significant difference between the EX group and normal control in all the parameters checked. The control groups were used to compare the results with all the parameters checked.The results were compared with the pretreated groups in both PC and EX groups showed that there was a slight improvement on the antioxidant status in the pretreated groups. This result was also supported by the biochemical estimations and the histopathological studies of the liver tissue.The use of antioxidants is an important preventive method to minimize the pathological and toxic effects of oxidative stress induced by alcohol. Ocimumbasilicumis a naturally occurring medicinal herb with antioxidants, which can be effectively used in preventing the harmful effects of ethanol toxicity without many side effects