title: Antistressor activity of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) against experimentally induced oxidative stress in rabbits.
abstract: Fresh leaves of Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum) were evaluated for antistress activity against experimentally induced oxidative stress in albino rabbits. Animals of the test group received supplementation of 2 g fresh leaves of O. sanctum per rabbit for 30 days. Anemic hypoxia was induced chemically by injecting the rabbits with 15 mg sodium nitrite per 100 g body weight intraperitoneally. Results indicated that O. sanctum administration blunted the changes in cardiorespiratory (BP, HR, RR) parameters in response to stress. A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in blood sugar level was observed after 30 days of dietary supplementation of O. sanctum leaves. Significant increase (p < 0.05) in the levels of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase) and nonenzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants was observed in the test group after the treatment with O. sanctum. Oxidative stress led to a lesser depletion of reduced glutathione (28.80%) and plasma superoxide dismutase (23.04%) in O. sanctum-treated rabbits. The results of this study suggest that the potential antistressor activity of O. sanctum is partly attributable to its antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India. dr_jyotisethi@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jyoti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satendra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sushma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anjana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shashi
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D031339:Ocimum; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D012977:Sodium Nitrite; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D028321:Plant Preparations; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D012977:Sodium Nitrite