Antihyperglycemic, endothelial protection and toxicity study of basil leaves extract on diabetic rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) remains a serious debilitating global health problem in low- and middle-income countries with rising incidence of DM-related complications due to ineffective Diabetic control. Herbs of the Ocimum family, especially Ocimum basilicum or basil leaves, have been investigated for their antihyperglycemic properties. AIM: This study aimed to demonstrate the antihyperglycemic effect, endothelial protection, and toxicity of basil leaves on Diabetes-induced Wistar rats in vivo. METHODS: Streptozosin injections were used to induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Basil leaves extracts 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg BW were introduced to diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels (BGL), soluble Advanced Glycation End, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Kidney and liver functions together with the histopathology reports were reported for acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity studies. RESULTS: Basil leaves exposure significantly lowers BGL (p < 0.00), but yielded no statistically significant difference between extract doses. Hemostatic parametersshowed significantly reduced endothelial dysfunction markers for all doses compared to control. Toxicity study yielded no differences between control and any doses of basil leaves in all acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity studies. Histopathological findings exhibited no evidence of tissue damage on the liver, kidney, heart, pancreas, lung, and lymph tissues in either control or experiment rats. CONCLUSIONS: Basil leaves exposure were positively associated with lower glucose level, lower endothelial activation markers on Diabetic rats. The toxicity and histopathological results of the extract are on par with control.