BACKGROUND

Various Ocimum species (Labiateae) are commonly used for the treatment of inflammation, stress, diarrhea, and as an antioxidant drug in the Indian ethnic system of medicine.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was carried out to investigate the antimelanoma and radioprotective activity of different species of Ocimum in C(57)BL and Swiss albino mice.

METHODS

The antimelanoma activity of 50% alcoholic aqueous leaf extract of five species of Ocimum [Ocimum sanctum (SE), Ocimum gratissimum (GE), Ocimum basilicum (BE), Ocimum canum (CE), and Ocimum kilimandscharicum (KE)] alone or in combination with radiotherapy was determined on the basis of tumor volume, body weight, and survival rate of animals. The radioprotective potential of different species of Ocimum was determined by chromosomal aberration assay. The effect of the alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum was also evaluated for the estimation of glutathione level and glutathione S-transferase activity in Swiss albino mice.

RESULTS

The 50% alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum administered orally (200 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in significant reduction in tumor volume, increase in average body weight, and survival rate of mice. The various extracts showed modulatory influence against lethal irradiation doses of gamma radiation in terms of radiation-induced chromosomal damage, while at the same time induced an increase in reduced glutathione level and GST activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that Ocimum species have antimelanoma and radioprotective activity against B(16)F(10) metastatic melanoma cell line-induced metastasis and could be exploited as one of the potential sources for plant-based pharmaceutical products.