Constituents of Ocimum sanctum with Antistress Activity

Abstract

Three new compounds, ocimumosides A (1) and B (2) and ocimarin (3), were isolated from an extract of the leaves of holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), together with eight known substances, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronic acid ( 4), apigenin-7- O-beta- d-glucuronic acid 6''-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronic acid 6''-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 4-allyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyronosyl-2-hydroxybenzene (5), and two known cerebrosides. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The new compounds (1- 3) and the known compounds 4 and 5 were screened at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight for acute stress-induced biochemical changes in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Compound 1 displayed promising antistress effects by normalizing hyperglycemia, plasma corticosterone, plasma creatine kinase, and adrenal hypertrophy. Compounds 2 and 5 were also effective in normalizing most of these stress parameters. In contrast, compounds 3 and 4 were ineffective in normalizing any of these effects.

Evaluation of ethanol leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum in experimental models of anxiety and depression

“…Ocimumosides A and B, ocimarin, together with eight other known substances, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid 6"-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid 6"-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, luteolin-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and 4-allyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyronosyl-2-hydroxybenzene and two known cerebrosides. Out of which, ocimumoside A and B and 4-allyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyronosyl-2-hydroxybenzene had been identified as the potential antistress agents in our previous studies (Gupta et al, 2007). These compounds could normalize various biochemical and structural stress-induced abnormalities in rats, by normalizing hyperglycemia, corticosterone levels, creatine kinase, and adrenal hypertrophy.…”

“…The bioassay-graded fractionation of the ethanol leaf extract of OS had previously revealed the presence of 10 compounds (Gupta et al, 2007). Ocimumosides A and B, ocimarin, together with eight other known substances, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid 6"-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucuronic acid 6"-methyl ester, luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, luteolin-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and 4-allyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyronosyl-2-hydroxybenzene and two known cerebrosides.…”

“…OS has been reported to possess anticarcinogenic (Karthikeyan et al, 1999), antidiabetic (Gupta et al, 2006), antihelminthic (Asha et al, 2001), anti-inflammatory (Godhwani et al, 1987), antioxidative (Geetha & Vasudevan, 2004), antibacterial (Singh et al, 2005), antistress (Gupta et al, 2007), and antiulcer (Dharmani et al, 2004) properties. OS leaves contain 0.7% volatile oil comprising about 71% eugenol and 20% methyl eugenol.…”

“…OS leaves contain 0.7% volatile oil comprising about 71% eugenol and 20% methyl eugenol. Additional components are carvacrol, sesquiterpine hydrocarbon caryophyllene, apigenin, luteolin, ocimumosides A and B, ocimarin, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, orientin, olludistin, and ursolic acid (Gupta et al, 2007).…”

Evaluation of the Sedative and Anticonvulsant Properties of Three Cameroonian Plants

“…Ocimum sanctum Lam (Lamiaceae) (O. sanctum) is a soudano-sahelian herb of 80 cm high also found in Africa (Geetha et al, 2004;Gupta et al, 2007). M. thonningii, O. sanctum and S. longepedunculata are used empirically in many countries in Africa and particularly in Cameroon to treat various diseases like epilepsy, insomnia, headaches, pains, fevers, heartaches, pneumonia, cold, stomachaches, allergy, worms, dysentery, rheumatism, jaundice, bronchitis, itch, intestinal obstruction, tuberculosis, leprosies (Abbiw, 1990;Arbonnier, 2000;Geetha et al, 2004;Gupta et al, 2007;Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1958;Irvine, 1961;Singhal et al, 1982). Knowing that in Sub-Saharan Africa, 70% of the populations are not able to pay for a modern Doctor or to buy a modern medicine, the use and the development of plants in traditional medicine are very essential in keeping the populations healthy.…”