Therapeutics potential of Ocimum basilicum following mercury chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

Globally mercury (Hg) has been reported as one of heavy metal of known toxicity, noted for inducing public health disasters. Present study examines the therapeutics potentials of Ocimum basilicum on mercury chloride (HgCl2) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats randomly divided into six groups (A-F) of five rats each. Group A served as control was given 2 mL/day of distilled water, Group B, C, D, E and F received 500 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of O. basilicum extract, 20 mg/kg/bwt of HgCl2, 40 mg/kg bwt of HgCl2, 20 mg/kg bwt of HgCl2 and 500 mg/kg bwt O. basilicum leave extract, 40 mg/kg bwt and 500 mg/kg bwt O. basilicum administered daily by gastric gavage, for 21 consecutive days. The gross anatomical parameters of the liver and liver histology were assessed. Liver oxidative stress was evaluated by liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. The activities of the biomarker enzymes of the liver (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were assayed). Histological profiles of the liver revealed derangement of the liver cytoarchitecture following consumption of mercury chloride and a marked improvement was observed after O. basilicum administration. Similarly, O. basilicum improved the reduction of antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) and the increased MDA caused by mercury chloride consumption. O. basilicum thus proffer protection against free radical mediated oxidative stress in mercury chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.