Abstract

The abilities of Ocimum suave (OS) and Ocimum basilicum (OB) to prevent high fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in Wister albino rats was investigated. Groups of rats maintained on a HFD, containing 31% fat, were given daily oral doses of 800 mg/kg of extracts of O. suave or O. basilicum for 21 days. High fat feeding caused significant (p < 0.05) increases in serum levels of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, but significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the serum triacylglycerols in the HFD control rats, as compared with the rats fed normal feed (7% fat). Administration of the aqueous extract ofO. suave or O. basilicum to HFD fed rats significantly (p < 0.05) prevented the HFD induced increases in serum total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, while partially, though significantly, prevented the HFD induced decrease in serum triacylglycerols. The effects of the two extracts were comparable with that of the standard hypolipidemic drug (Lipitor^®). The HFD induced significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum Albumin levels was unaffected by all treatments. The HFD control rats had significantly (p < 0.05) elevated levels ofthiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the serum, liver and kidney; as compared with normal controls. The extracts prevented these increases. Serum and kidney superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities dropped significantly when HFD only was fed to rats; the liver SOD was unaffected. Administration of the aqueous extracts of O. suave to HFD fed rats caused the SOD activities in the serum, liver and kidney to rise significantly above even the levels recorded in rats fed normal feed. It was concluded that the hyperlipidemia induced by HFD feeding was prevented by aqueous extracts of O. suaveand O. basilicum; and that high fat diet (HFD) increases oxidative stress which was ameliorated by concomitant administration of the extracts.

Key words: Hyperlipidemia, high fat diet, Ocimum suave, Ocimum basilicum, oxidative stress, antioxidant.