Planta Med 2009; 75 - PA72
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234397

Topical anti-inflammatory effects of Ocimum basilicum leaf extract in the phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate model of mouse ear inflammation

NP Yadav 1, R Khatri 2, DU Bawankule 1, A Pal 1, K Shanker 1, P Srivastava 1, AK Gupta 1, D Chanda 1
  • 1Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow-226015, India
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.)-470003, India

Indian basil (Ocimum basilicum L. Family Lamiaceae) is a well-known traditional medicinal plant in the Indian subcontinent. The wound healing activity of the leaves has been reported in our earlier work [1]. In search of possible mode of action for wound healing activity, the topical anti-inflammatory property of the ethanol-water (25%) extract of leaves in mice has been carried out. Swiss albino mice of 22–25g of weight were used and approved by the ethical committee of the institute. Mice were divided into four groups (n=5) viz. Normal, toxin control, positive control and treated group. Animals of each group except normal group were applied phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (1µg daily) on the right ear for 5 days as toxin. After 30min of toxin application, the animals of Group III were applied 20mg of cream formulation of indomethacin and Group IV animals were applied OB extract (4mg) daily. On the 5th day, all the animals were sacrificed and their ears were separated for the estimation of various parameters viz. ear weight, lipid peroxidation, interleukin1-β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. OB extract significantly (p≤0.05) reduced the ear weight variation (difference in the weight of right and left ear of animals), levels of LPO (malonaldehyde), IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α when compared with toxin group using ANOVA test and as shown in table.

Parameters

Group I

Group II

Group III

Group IV

Normal
(mean±SEM)

Toxin control (mean±SEM)

Positive control (mean±SEM)

OB extract (mean±SEM)

Ear weight variation (mg)

3.47±0.187

34.54±0.39 a

19.34±4.56 b

17.43±1.54b

LPO (pg/ml)

11.05±2.38

63.84±3.196 a

19.65±2.09 b

20.72±2.10 b

IL-1β (pg/ml)

57.04±4.10

606.02±7.37 a

292.03±10.67 b

362.01±12.11 b

IL-6 (pg/ml)

118.79±7.50

1431.84±34.72 a

701.88±18.78

644.07±14.59 b

TNF-α (pg/ml)

60.14±2.54

221.89±8.05 a

166.29±7.18

95.76±3.68 b

Values with 'a' exhibit significant difference (p≤0.5) when compared to normal group and value with 'b' exhibit significant difference (p≤0.5) from toxin group.

Therefore we can conclude that ethanol-water extract of OB has shown significant anti-inflammatory activity against phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate induced topical inflammation in mouse ear.

Reference: [1] Yadav, N. et al. (2008)J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 60(Sup.1):A-31.