Hypolipemic activity of polyphenol-rich extracts from Ocimum basilicum in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice

The hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic activities of the aqueous and organic extracts of Ocimum basilicum were studied using Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipemic mice as an experimental model. Hyperlipidemia was developed by intraperitoneal injection of Triton (200 mg/kg body weight “BW”). The animals were divided into eight groups of eight mice each: normolipidemic control group (NCG), hyperlipidemic control group (HCG), hyperlipidemic plus DMSO control (HDCG), crude aqueous basil extract-treated group (CETG), dichloromethane extract-treated group (DETG), ethyl acetate extract-treated group (EETG), methanol extract-treated group (METG), and aqueous fraction-treated group (AFTG). After 7 h and 24 h of treatment, the intragastric administration of all extracts caused a significant decrease of plasma total cholesterol. Triglyceride levels were also significantly lowered but not in DETG. Similar results were observed for LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Although no significant change of HDL-cholesterol was noticed after 7 h of treatments, a significant increase of this cholesterol fraction was observed in EETG and AFTG after 24 h. Furthermore, crude aqueous basil extract and all polar solvent (methanol, ethyl acetate, water)-soluble fractions showed a significant ameliorative action on elevated atherogenic index (AI) and LDL/HDL-C ratios, while these atherogenic markers were not statistically suppressed by the dichloromethane-soluble extract. This finding indicates that O. basilicum may contain polar products able to lower plasma lipid concentrations and might be beneficial in treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.