Okpe John Mathias¹*, Idoko Alexander¹, Omada Adams Akogwu², Odiba John Chubiyojo³, Olupinyo Olusegun², Ozoana Somtochukwu Cynthia⁴, Nwosu Eucharia Nkechi⁵, Samuel Deborah¹ and Onu Stephen Onyebuchi¹

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria
²Department of Medical Biochemistry, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Nigeria
³Department of Biochemistry, Salem University, Lokoja, Nigeria
⁴Department of Biochemistry, State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo Eno Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
⁵National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Bioresources Development Centre, Abagana, Anambra State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Okpe John Mathias, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria.

Received: April 28, 2026 Published: May 21, 2026

Abstract

Oxidative stress is globally known as one of the causes of diabetic mellitus and it debilitating effects and complications. This study revealed the antioxidant potential of ethanolic leaf extracts from Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum using alloxan- induced diabetic Wistar albino rats. The phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of bioactive compounds like anthraquinones, phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, and reducing sugars. Comparatively, there was a variation among the two plants screened for the phytochemistry. Furthermore, the anti-nutrient composition also, elucidate that oxalate, phytate and cyanide levels were relatively low. The findings from the in-vitro antioxidant tests revealed notable free radical scavenging activity. As expected, the reference standards quercetin showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) radical scavenging activity than Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum extracts. Between the two, however, the Ocimum gratissimum extract consistently outperformed the Ocimum basilicum extract. Also, the in-vivo study, was conducted with fourty male Wistar albino rats divided into seven groups: a normal control, an alloxan induced diabetic group and four co-treatment groups receiving the extracts and standard drug treated group alone. Administration of alloxan was significantly (p < 0.05) decrease in antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, Catalase and GSH. Nevertheless, co-treatment with Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum extracts revealed an increase in the endogenous antioxidant enzyme levels and decrease oxidative level. Conclusively, the study adjudges that Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum extracts possess antioxidant potential for the management of diabetes mellitus caused by oxidative stress.

Keywords: Ocimum basilicum; Ocimum gratissimum; Antioxidant Activity; Oxidative Stress; Alloxan-Induced Diabetes; Phytochemicals

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Citation

Citation: Okpe John Mathias., et al. “Protective role of Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil) and Ocimum gratissimum (Scent leaves) Against Oxidative Stress in Alloxan-induced Diabetes in Wistar Albino Rats". Acta Scientific Pharmaceutical Sciences 10.5 (2026): 24-30.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Okpe John Mathias., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.