Modulatory influence of alcoholic extract of Ocimum leaves on carcinogen-metabolizing enzyme activities and reduced glutathione levels in mouse.
The present study reports the modulatory influence of alcoholic extract from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum on the activities of cytochrome p-450, cytochrome b5, and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase enzymes in the liver and glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione level in the liver, lung, and stomach of the mouse. Oral treatment with the leaf extract at 400 and 800 mg/kg body wt for 15 days would significantly elevate the activities of cytochrome p-450 (p < 0.05), cytochrome b5 (p < 0.01, p < 0.001), aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (p < 0.05), and glutathione S-transferase (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), all of which are important in the detoxification of carcinogens as well as mutagens. Moreover treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg body wt of Ocimum extract for 15 days also significantly elevated extrahepatic glutathione-S-transferase (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The reduced glutathione level was also elevated by treatment with the leaf extract in liver, lung, and stomach tissues (p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Mice fed a diet containing 0.75% butylated hydroxyanisole (positive control) revealed no alteration in the basal hepatic cytochrome p-450 and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase level, but hepatic cytochrome b5 and glutathione S-transferase activity in hepatic and extrahepatic organs were elevated in a time-responsive manner (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). The observations suggest further exploitation of the Ocimum leaf extract or its active principle(s) for the chemoprevention of chemical carcinogenesis in different animal model systems.
Banerjee
S
S
Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Prashar
R
R
Kumar
A
A
Rao
A R
AR
D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D015786:Cytochromes b5 / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017365:Spices; D013270:Stomach / Q000201:enzymology
D002273:Carcinogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015786:Cytochromes b5; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione