title: Antimelanoma and radioprotective activity of alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum in C(57)BL mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various Ocimum species (Labiateae) are commonly used for the treatment of inflammation, stress, diarrhea, and as an antioxidant drug in the Indian ethnic system of medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was carried out to investigate the antimelanoma and radioprotective activity of different species of Ocimum in C(57)BL and Swiss albino mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antimelanoma activity of 50% alcoholic aqueous leaf extract of five species of Ocimum [Ocimum sanctum (SE), Ocimum gratissimum (GE), Ocimum basilicum (BE), Ocimum canum (CE), and Ocimum kilimandscharicum (KE)] alone or in combination with radiotherapy was determined on the basis of tumor volume, body weight, and survival rate of animals. The radioprotective potential of different species of Ocimum was determined by chromosomal aberration assay. The effect of the alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum was also evaluated for the estimation of glutathione level and glutathione S-transferase activity in Swiss albino mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 50% alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum administered orally (200 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in significant reduction in tumor volume, increase in average body weight, and survival rate of mice. The various extracts showed modulatory influence against lethal irradiation doses of gamma radiation in terms of radiation-induced chromosomal damage, while at the same time induced an increase in reduced glutathione level and GST activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that Ocimum species have antimelanoma and radioprotective activity against B(16)F(10) metastatic melanoma cell line-induced metastasis and could be exploited as one of the potential sources for plant-based pharmaceutical products.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Idgah Hills, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tailor
authors.forename: Narayan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ganesh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D031339:Ocimum; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D013534:Survival; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione