Iyawe Hanson
Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria
Title: Assessement of Ocimum Gratissimum extract on some oxidative stress indicators in Rats
Biography
Biography: Iyawe Hanson
Abstract
The leaf of Ocimum gratissimum is acclaimed to have medicinal value, with scarce information on the role it may play in controlling oxidative stress. The interest on the leaf derives from the need to have an insight as to the possible effect it may have on oxidative stress. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of graded extracts of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on some oxidative stress indicators. The leave samples were collected and air dried, homogenized and sieved to obtain particle sizes of ≤ 0.250mm. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of samples were obtained and used to assay for total alkaloid and phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and the extent of lipid peroxidation in liver and kidneys were determined. Standard methods were used in all assays. Phenolic contents in Ocimum gratissimum were detected as 1.59 ± 0.13 and 0.15 ± 007 (mgGAE/g) in aqueous and methanol respectively. Alkaloid levels were 0.24 ± 0.02 and 0.96 ± 0.04 (µg/g) in aqueous and methanol respectively. Reducing power of the leaves increased progressively with increasing extract concentrations (mg/mL) in both water and methanol in comparison with respective BHT (2.49) and ascorbic acid (2.16) controls. Ability to scavenge free radicals increased with increasing extract concentrations with highest percentages in aqueous extracts (95.90%) compared to control (100%). Leave extracts were observed to significantly (p<0.05) increased lipid peroxidations in liver and kidneys of experimental models. The leaf of ocimum gratissimum is thus assessed to be valuable in free radical quenching.