title: Anti-inflammatory and antiedematogenic activity of the Ocimum basilicum essential oil and its main compound estragole: In vivo mouse models.
abstract: The genus Ocimum are used in cooking, however, their essential oils are utilized in traditional medicine as aromatherapy. The present study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition and systemic anti-inflammatory activity of the Ocimum basilicum essential oil (EOOB) and its major component estragole, as well as its possible mechanisms of action. The Ocimum basilicum essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory action was verified using acute and chronic in vivo tests as paw edema, peritonitis, and vascular permeability and granulomatous inflammation model. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of action was analyzed by the participation of histamine and arachidonic acid pathways. The chemical profile analysis identified fourteen components present in the essential oil, within them: estragole (60.96%). The in vivo test results show that treatment with EOOB (100 and 50 mg/kg) and estragole (60 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan and dextran. The smallest doses of EOOB (50 mg/kg) and estragole (30 mg/kg) showed efficacy in the reduction of paw edema induced by histamine and arachidonic acid, vascular permeability inhibition and leukocyte emigration in the peritoneal fluid. Theses doses were capable of reducing the chronic inflammatory process. The results observed between the EOOB and estragole demonstrate efficacy in anti-inflammatory activity, however, the essential oil is more efficacious in the acute and chronic anti-inflammatory action. This study confirms the therapeutic potential of this plant and reinforces the validity of its use in popular medicine.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lindaiane Bezerra
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Rafael Alves Santana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Cesário
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fyama
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferreira E Castro
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Rodrigues
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Neyze
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Martins Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Anderson
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fernandes da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucindo José
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Quintans Júnior
authors.affiliation: Research and Natural Product Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Galberto Martins
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Biology Molecular Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique Douglas
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Melo Coutinho
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roseli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Cel Antonio Luis 1161, Pimenta, CEP 63105-000, Crato, Ceara, Brazil. Electronic address: irwin.alencar@urca.br.
authors.forename: Irwin Rose
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Alencar de Menezes
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C080118:ocimum oil; C007633:estragole
keywords: Anti-edematogenic activity; Anti-inflammatory activity; Chemical composition; Estragole; Ocimum basilicum