J Appl Biomed 7:45-53, 2009 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2009.004

Anti-lipidemic actions of essential oil extracted from Ocimum sanctum L. leaves in rats fed with high cholesterol diet

Thamolwan Suanarunsawat1,*, Watcharaporn Devakul Na Ayutthaya2, Thanapat Songsak3, Jittraporn Rattanamahaphoom1
1 Physiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Rangsit University, Pathumtani, Thailand
2 Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Rangsit University, Pathumtani, Thailand
3 Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathumtani, Thailand

Ocimum sanctum L. (OS) leaves have been shown to have a potential for lipid-lowering action. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidaemic ability of the EO extracted from OS leaves in rats fed with a high cholesterol (HC) diet. EO of OS leaves was extracted using the hydrodistillation method and its chemical composition was further determined by GC-MS. The results showed that phenylpropanoid compounds (eugenol and methyl eugenol) were the major components of the EO. There were no significant differences in body weight gain, food intake, and heart weight in all groups of rats. The HC diet apparently raised the serum total cholesterol, LDL-C and atherogenic index without significant effect on serum triglyceride, whereas it decreased the HDL-C level. The EO significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride and atherogenic index whereas no significant effect on HDL-C was observed. EO depressed a high level of liver total cholesterol and triglyceride whereas no significant effect on both lipids excreted in faeces was found. It can be concluded that the EO extracted from OS leaves contributes to a lipid-lowering action in HC rats. Its anti-hyperlipidaemic action is predominantly due to the suppression of liver lipid synthesis. Phenylpropanoid compounds, the main composition of EO are possibly responsible for the lipid-lowering effect.

Keywords: hyperlipidemia; Ocimum sanctum; liver lipid; faeces lipid; essential oil

Received: October 23, 2008; Revised: November 12, 2008; Published: March 31, 2009  Show citation

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Suanarunsawat T, Devakul Na Ayutthaya W, Songsak T, Rattanamahaphoom J. Anti-lipidemic actions of essential oil extracted from Ocimum sanctum L. leaves in rats fed with high cholesterol diet. J Appl Biomed. 2009;7(1):45-53. doi: 10.32725/jab.2009.004.
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