Protective Effect of Ocimum basilicum on Brain Cells Exposed to Oxidative Damage by Electromagnetic Field in Rat: Ultrastructural Study by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Objective: Basil herb (Ocimum basilicum) has long been used in human nutrition. Nowadays antioxidant role of this herb is known more. The aim of this study was to study the anti-oxidative property of sweet basil to protect central nervous system against oxidative damages of electromagnetic field (EMF) and its affective sequences. Materials and Methods: Forty Albino male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups, 10 rats per each. Group 1 received normal diet (control group), group 2 was exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 8 weeks (EMF group). Group 3 was exposed to 50 Hz EMF and fed with basil extract (0.5 g/kg body weight) for 8 weeks (treatment group) and group 4 was fed with basil extract (0.5 g/kg body weight) for 8 weeks and named as herbal group. At the end of eighth week 5 mL blood was taken from all rats for biochemical analysis and for ultra structural study of brain neuron samples was taken. Results: The results showed level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) peroxidase and catalase activity (CAT) were significantly increased in herbal and treatment groups as compared to EMF group (P < 0.05). Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased in treatment group as compare to EMF group (P < 0.05). Ultra structural evaluation of EMF group showed brain nucleus has a lot of heterochromatic changes and mitochondria have been ovulated and have swelling figure this changes were less in treatment group. Conclusion: Antioxidant capacity of basil extract can cause to decrease oxidative effects of EMF on brain tissue and in rats.