Skip to main content
Log in

Hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum linn) on streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats

  • Diabetes
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effect of oral administration of 200 mg/Kg body weight of the aqueous extract ofOcimum sanctum (Tulsi) mixed with diet for eight weeks to diabetic (streptozotocin induced) rats was studied. There was significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, lipid peroxidation products, (LPO) and improvement in glucose tolerance. The aqueous extract also decreased LPO formation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARS) and increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione transferase (GT) and one antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma and rat liver, lung, kidney and brain. The decrease in TBARS and increase in GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX, and GT clearly shows the antioxidant property ofOcimum sanctum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Satyavati, G.V., Raina, M.K. and Sharma, M. (1976) Medicinal plants of India, Indian Concial of Medical Research, New Delhi. p.65–68.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dhar, M.L., Dhar, M.M., Dhawan, B.N., Mehrotra, B.N. and Ray, C. (1968) Screening of Indian plants for biological activity. Part1. Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 6, 232–238.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Shukia, R., Sharma, S.B., Puri, D., Prabhu, K.M. and Murthy, P.S. (2000) Medicinal plants for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Ind. J. Clin. Biochem. 15 (August, suppl.), 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pushpangadan, P. and Sobti, S.N. (1977) Medicinal properties of Ocimum (Tulsi) species and some recent investigations of their efficacy. Indian Drugs 14, 207–208.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gupta, S. (1967) Pharmacognosy of leaves of different species of Ocimum (Tulsi). Ind. J. Med. Res. 2 (1), 35–38.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chattopadhyay, R.R. (1993) Hypoglycaemic effect ofOcimum sanctum leaf extract, in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats. Ind. J. Expt Biol. 31, 891–893.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bhargava, K.P. and Singh N. (1991) Anti-stress activity ofOcimum sanctum Linn. Ind. J. Med. Res. 73, 443–451.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rai, V. and Iyer. U.V. (1997) Effect of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on blood sugar levels, serum lipids and tissue lipids in diabetic rats. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 50 (1), 9–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Agrawal, P., Rai, V. and Singh, R.B. (1996). Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Int. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 34 (9), 406–409.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hussain, H.E.M.A., Jamil, K. and Rao, M. (2001) Preliminiary studies on the hypoglycaemic effect ofAbroma augusta in alloxan diabetic rats. Ind. J. Clin. Biochem. 16 (1), 77–80.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Poliodoro, G.D.T., Arduini, R.G.L.A. and Federici, G. (1984). Superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and Tba-reactive products in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis. Int. J. Biochem,. 16 (5), p.505–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hiroshi, O., Nobuko, O. and Kunio, V. (1979) Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal. Biochem. 5, 351–358.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wendel, A. (1981) Glutathione peroxidase. In: Methods in Enzymology, Ed. Jakoby, W.B. Acadamic Press, New York, U.S.A. vol. 77, p.327–333.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mohan, V., Ramachandran, A. and Viswanathan, M. (1985) Tropical diabetes. In: The diabetes Annual I, Eds. Aiberti, K.G.M.M., Krall, L.P. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam. p.82–92.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Baynes, J.W. (1991) Role of oxidative stress in developments of complications of diabetes. Diabetes. 40, 405–412.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Vernon, R. (1981) Psychoneuroendocrine influences on immunocompetence and neoplasia Science, 212, (20), 1100–1110.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yagi, K. (1987) Lipid peroxides and human disease. Chem. Phys. Lipids. 45, 357–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hussain, E.H.M.A., Jamil, K. & Rao, M. Hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum linn) on streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. Indian J Clin Biochem 16, 190–194 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864859

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864859

Key words

Navigation