The study aimed to test the effect of sweet basil extract on hypercholesterolemia. Sweet basil leaves were extracted with distilled water, ethanol and a mixture of distilled water: ethanol (1:3, v/v). Phenolic and flavonoids concentrates were fractionated and identified with High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC). Two levels of each concentrated extract were used to find its effect on the hypercholesterolemic rats. Six groups of hypercholesterolemic rats received 0.35 or 0.70 g/Kg bw from aqueous, ethanolic and aqueous + ethanolic extracts of sweet basil leaves and were compared with normal control group and hyperlipidemic control group for 30 days. Growth of rats, biochemical biomarks and histopathological examination were evaluated. Results showed that the main phenolic compound was p-Hydroxybenzoic acid. Meanwhile, the main flavonoids compound was rutin. The biological experiment showed that second concentration of sweet basil leaves extracts (ASBL2, ESBL2 and AESBL2) had a positive effect to lower the weight of hypercholesterolemic rats. No significant difference was found in relative organs weight among all tested rat groups. Sweet basil leave extracts had a positive effect to decrease serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol of HC rats. The Atherogenic index (Al) was decreased due to sweet basil leaves extracts treated rat groups compared to the hyperlipidemic rats group. Sweet basil leaves extracts may play a role in improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decrease the lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and level of H202 in serum. The serum ALT, AST, ALP and y-GT activities of the second concentration (0.70 g/Kg bw) of sweet basil leaves extracts had no significant difference compared to NC rats group. There was no significant difference in serum uric acid, urea and creatinine among all tested rat groups received sweet basil leaves extracts and NC rats group except for HC rats group. No histopathological changes were observed in liver of rat groups received second concentration (0.70 g/Kg bw) of sweet basil leaves extracts. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that sweet basil leaves extracts had an important role in lowering the hyperlipidemia in experimental animals especially the second concentration of sweet basil leaves extracts. Delia M. El-Nahal et al search for new lipid-lowering agents. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), a member of Labiatae (Ocimoideae) is widely used in cooking for its culinary qualities. The chemical constituents of sweet basil are flavonoids, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, terpenoids, tannins, saponin glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Leaves samples showed the presence of two major flavone aglycones, which were identified as salvigenin and nevadensin (Grayer et al., 1996). This plant is a versatile herb that may be used in an abundant variety of foods. It is excellent in tomato-based dishes, spinach, and large number of squash. It is also widely used in soup and in cream cheese for sandwiches, dips and pasta dishes (Mi...

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The protective effect of folic acid (FA) on hepatic oxidative stress in aged rats exposed to oxidative stress by supply drinking water with 1% H2O2 (v/v) was studied. Rats were divided into two groups, the first group was considered as standard one (F1) which was fed on basal diet and administrated 1 mg FA/ Kg body weight (BW) daily by stomach tube without addition H2O2 in drinking water. The second group was divided into five subgroups, the first subgroup was the control (F2) which fed on basal diet free from folic acid (FF) with 1 % H2O2 in the drinking water, while other groups from F3 to F6 were administrated different concentrations of folic acid (1, 20, 40 and 80 mg FA/ Kg BW), respectively. Weight gain, total feed intake, feed efficiency, liver weight and its relative weight were estimated. Biochemical assay: activity of antioxidant enzymes system such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT); lipid peroxidation level as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2); and liver functions [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], were determined. Additionally, total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin; and kidney functions [creatinine, urea, and uric acid]; and lipid profile as [total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDLcholesterol, and triglycerides] were also, carried out. The obtained results showed accumulated weight gain which significantly increased in rats group administrated 40 and 80 mg/ Kg BW/d folic acid. No changes in relative liver weight among tested rat groups were recorded. No significant difference was observed in lipid profile, LDH and SOD between groups (F1 and F6). Data also indicated that F1 group recorded the best one which was low in MDA and high in CAT, followed by F6. Folic acid showed no effect on kidney functions. No histopathological changes were observed in liver of rat groups administered 40 or 80 mg folic acid / Kg BW/d, thus indicating that supplementation with high doses of FA had a protective effect from the hepatic oxidative stress in liver of tested rats.

The interactions between dietary zinc, copper and iron and their effects on antioxidant enzymes activity [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] were examined. Fifty-four rats weighting approximately between 80-100 grams were divided into nine groups (E1-E9). Each group containing six rats was fed on basal diet with varying amount of Zn (2.5, 35 or 175 mg Zn/kg diet), Cu (1.2, 6.3, or 25 mg Cu/kg diet) and Fe (10, 50 or 230 mg Fe/kg diet). The second group (E2) was fed a diet deficient in all studied elements (2.5mg Zn, 1.2mg Cu, and 10mg Fe per 1 kg diet). The results of E2 showed a decrease in SOD and CAT activity and increase GST in plasma erythrocytes and tissues. Moreover, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and hydrogen peroxide production in E2 were found to be higher than those in other groups. The high activity of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) in the plasma indicated that cell membrane damage was occurred. This damage was accompanied by elevation of lipid peroxidation and in the same time by reduction of SOD and CAT activity. Supplementation of basal diet with the different concentrations of studied minerals led to improve the activity of antioxidants enzymes (SOD and CAT) and decrease in TBARs and LDH activity.

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