Avaliação dos Efeitos do Extrato Hidroalcoólico do Manjericão (Ocimum Basilicum L.) sobre Parâmetros Oxidativos, Inflamatórios e Genotoxicológicos em Cultura de Leucócitos Humanos

Abstract

The use of natural products in folk medicine as a treatment method is a genereal ternd for the Brazilian population. This trend has contributed significantly to the consumption not only of natural products, as well as herbal medicines. In this context, Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) arises as one of these therapeutical resources. Basil is widely used as an ornamental plant and as a condiment. Original in tropical Asia, is now grown worldwide. Among the popular uses of Ocimum basilicum L., its employment as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, cardiovascular agent, factors associated with aging, between others. Several secondary metabolites with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity have been identified in this species and several studies have reported that rosmarinic acid is the most biologically active compound. Knowing the economic importance and worldwide dissemination of their uses, both in cooking, as in folk medicine, it is important to prove the effects of Basil, to ensure its efficacy and safety, as toxicicty studies for this species are rare and usually do not approach genetic aspects. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity by testing lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, vitamin C; activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); analysis of inflammatory parameters for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and genetic toxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract in human white blood cells (WBC) using cell culture, through the analysis of cell viability and cellular proliferation, chromosome instability, comet assay and micronucleus test. With our results it is possible to verify that O. basilicum extract acts as an antioxidant and effectively reverts or subjugates the effects of a high oxidizing agent as hydrogen peroxide and, these actions are explained because its composition, which is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids besides several compound as Rosmarinic Acid, who have a well-known antioxidant activity. In toxicological tests, all results were dose-dependent. In the anti-inflammatory aspect, we show that our extract actually presents these properties and the mechanism involved in these particular actions are a composed interaction between the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines.