Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigation of Ocimum Basilicum Seed

Abstract

Qualities as well as standardization of herbal medicines especially of ethno medicinal and folklore medicines are extremely important for evaluation of therapeutic potential of plants. Hereby considering lack of information and scientific evidences on indigenous medicines, it was endeavored to develop quality control parameters for herbal plants. A comprehensive study on seed of indigenous plants O. basilicum (known as ‘Takhmaria, subja seed’ in Gujarat) has been carried out in accordance with WHO guidelines. Pharmacognostical work mentioned can successfully be applied in order to identify seed of plant. The physicochemical evaluation ensures the quality of plants. Phytochemical studies of the prepared extracts showed presence of triterpenoids, phytosterols, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins & phenolic compounds. Methanolic fraction revealed the presence of carbohydrate, protein, phenolic, flavonoids and saponins and seed mucilage. O. basilicum seed contains considerable amount of phenols and flavonoids content. Three compound one flavanoids (apigenin) and two phenolic (catechin, gallic acid) were isolated first time from methanolic extract of O. basilicum seed isolated using column chromatography method. The developed HPTLC and RP-HPLC is simple, rapid, robust, specific, accurate, precise and sensitive techniques to quantify the apigenin without interference of sample matrix from the seed of O. basilicum. The developed method can also used for the marker-based standardization of herbal formulations. Two models were used for the antidiabetic activity, oral glucose tolerance and streptozotocin induced diabetic animals, the methanolic extract of O. basilicum seed and isolated compound apigenin has the blood glucose lowering activity and anti hyperlipidemic activity. The extracts also showed significant improvement in parameters like body weight, and lipid profile as well as regeneration of pancreatic islets of Langerhans. This is the first report that demonstrates antidiabetic and anti hyperlidermic properties of O. basilicum seed and apigenin.