ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a serious public health problem associated with oxidative stress which can
damage cells and may also play a role in development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Ocimum gratissimum is a medicinal plant with useful phytochemicals and minerals.
Antioxidative effect of methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (MEOG) in tissue samples
of hypertensive male wistar rats was investigated. Forty wistar rats (100-110)g were
assigned to five groups of eight rats each. Group 1-5 constitutes the normal, hypertensive
group, MEOG (200 mg/kg bwt) group, MEOG (400 mg/kg bwt) and reference drug (lisinopril,
30 mg/kg) group respectively. The extract and reference drug were given through oral
gavage. All groups except group 1 were induced with 8% NaCl from 0-4weeks before
treatment with extract and reference drug from 5-8 weeks. At 8weeks, the tissue samples
(liver, kidney, testes and heart) were excised out and homogenized for analysis.
Phytochemical, mineral and oxidative stress markers analysis was done using standard
methods. The mean level of antioxidant enzymes on tissue samples of liver, kidney, testes
and heart showed significant (P<0.05) increase at different doses when compared with the
control group. Moreover, at higher doses of 400mg/kg/bwt of MEOG, there was significant
increase when compared to 200mg/kg/bwt of MEOG. In lisinopril group and untreated
group, there were significant decrease (P<0.05) when compared with the control group at
8weeks. The mean level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) on tissue samples of liver, kidney,
testes and heart showed significant (P<0.05) increase in untreated group, lisinopril group
and 200mg/kg/bwt of MEOG when compared with the control group. Moreover, at higher
doses of 400mg/kg/bwt of MEOG, there was significant (P<0.05) decrease when compared
with the control group. Ocimum gratissimum possesses antioxidative effect which may be
linked to the rich phytochemicals and minerals resident in the plant. Therefore, may be
beneficial in ameroliating the effect of oxidative stress in hypertensive condition.
Keywords: Hypertension, Methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (MEOG), Oxidative
stress markers, Malondialdehyde (MDA).