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 It 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. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.