Antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolaemic and antioxidant effect of Ocimum sanctum (Linn) seed oil.

Antihyperlipidaemic and antioxidant effect of Ocimum sanctum Linn. seed oil (OSSO) was investigated in rabbits. Administration of OSSO (0.8 g/kg body weight/day) for four weeks, in cholesterol (100 mg/kg body weight/day) fed rabbits significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-+VLDL-cholesterol as compared to untreated cholesterol fed group. There was significant fall in atherogenic index in OSSO treated group. In addition, treatment with OSSO decreased lipid peroxidation and increased reduced glutathione content in blood. Antidiabetic effect of O. sanctum seed oil was evaluated in alloxan diabetic rabbits. Two weeks treatment of diabetic rabbits with OSSO (0.8 gm/kg/day) showed no significant hypoglycaemic effect. Results of the present study show that OSSO has hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects but it does not have antidiabetic effect.

Effect of partial ileal bypass on the lipid profile in the hyperlipedemic rabbits.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of partial ideal bypass was studied in two groups of healthy albino rabbits. Both groups of rabbits were made hypercholesterolemic by feeding them cholesterol suspended in groundnut oil (1 ml/kg bw) at a dose of 100 ml/kg bw/day for one week. Group I rabbits were subjected to partial ileal bypass and group II rabbits were sham operated. Weekly estimation of serum lipid profiles were done for four more weeks while continuing cholesterol feed. After end of 5th week, it was found that partial ileal bypass not only prevented but also brought down its level from 132.8 mg% to 44.8 + 2.24 mg%, as compared to sham operates group where cholesterol level was 279 + 5.84 mg%. There was improvement in other parameters of lipid profiles namely HDL-C & LDL-C + VLDL-C and TAG.