Protective effects of Ocimum gratissimum polyphenol extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Ocimum gratissimum found in tropical regions is a traditional herb commonly which prevents free radical damage and protects liver from oxidative stress and fibrosis. Ocimum gratissimum polyphenol extract (OGPE) was purified by resin tube to 33.24% polyphenol and 8.2% flavonoid, which were three-fold higher compared with the pre-purification concentrations. The abstract was used to determine if the antioxidant components in the O. gratissimum extract (OGE) were responsible for protective effects on liver fibrosis. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the content levels of catechin, caffeic acid and epicatechin in OGPE also increased three-fold. Male Wistar rats were administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and varying amounts of OGPE doses [0-12 mg/kg body weight (BW)] or OGE dose (40 mg/kg BW) for 8 weeks. Results showed that OGPE at 12 mg/kg BW, similar to OGE at 40 mg/kg BW, maintained the liver weight, significantly ameliorated CCl4-induced steatosis, and mitigated other pathological changes. OGPE (12 mg/kg BW) also maintained the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as the levels of malondialdehyde, catalase and α-smooth muscle actin in liver tissues from CCl4-induced changes. These findings suggest that antioxidant components in OGPE were the major factors that prevented liver fibrosis. Moreover, higher polyphenol concentrations were necessary for higher effectiveness.

Ocimum gratissimum is effective in prevention against liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro.

Ocimum gratissimum is a traditional herb commonly found in tropical regions, which prevents free radical damage and protects the liver from oxidative stress. In this study, we tested in vivo and in vitro the effectiveness of O. gratissimum extracts (OGEs) in anti-hepatic fibrosis in rats. Male Wistar rats were administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) by intraperitoneal injection and varying amounts of oral injection of OGE doses (0-40 mg/kg body weight) for 8 weeks. Our experiments showed that OGE significantly reduced liver damage, including steatosis and fibrosis, in a dose-dependent manner, as well as significantly decreased the elevation in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). It also inhibited the formation of lipid peroxidative products during CCl4 treatment. Moreover, OGE-inhibited CCl4-induced liver collagen accumulation and promoted the expression of catalase, an anti-oxidative enzyme. The inhibition of fibrosis factors α-SMA expression was also observed. In primary cultures, OGE significantly inhibited the serum-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and the expression of α-SMA and collagen α (I). These data suggest that O. gratissimum possesses anti-hepatic fibrosis properties via its anti-oxidative components.