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Evaluation of the role of nitric oxide and antioxidation in the antiulcer activity of Ocimum sanctum leaves: an experimental study

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Abstract

Ocimum sanctum Linn. (O. sanctum) is a plant used in the traditional systems of medicine for healing several ailments. In the present study, the antiulcer activity of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg doses of the aqueous extract (AE) of O. sanctum leaves was evaluated using ethanol and aspirin-induced ulcer models. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the antiulcer activity of O. sanctum was evaluated by administering Nω-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, to AE treated rats before inducing ulcers by ethanol. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malonylaldehyde (MDA) levels were measured in AE treated rats in the aspirin-induced ulcer model so as to evaluate the role of antioxidation in the antiulcer activity. AE showed a dose-dependent and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the ulcer index (UI) and increase in the percentage protection (PP) compared to the control group, in both the animal models employed. L-NAME pretreatment did not cause any significant (p < 0.05) change in the antiulcer activity of AE. The levels of MPO and MDA were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the AE suggesting an antioxidant mechanism in its antiulcer activity. The bioactive phytochemicals isolated from the leaves may be responsible for the gastroprotective action of O. sanctum. The results of the study confirm the ethnopharmacological claim of O. sanctum leaves being effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease.

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Acknowledgments

The study was not supported by any source of funding. The authors are grateful to Dr. PK Ojha and Dr. HK Sharma from the Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College, Assam for providing essential inputs during the conduct of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, 110001, India

    Pranjit Santonu Bhajoni, Girish Gulab Meshram & Manik Shankarrao Ghadlinge

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, 781032, Assam, India

    Mangala Lahkar

  3. Department of Pharmacology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi, 110001, India

    Harmeet Singh Rehan

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Chakra Dhar Tripathi

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  1. Pranjit Santonu Bhajoni
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  2. Girish Gulab Meshram
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  3. Mangala Lahkar
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  4. Manik Shankarrao Ghadlinge
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Correspondence to Girish Gulab Meshram.

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Ethical Statement

The experimental protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee and confirm to the ‘Guidelines for care and use of animals in scientific research’ (Indian National Science Academy 1998, Revised 2000).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Bhajoni, P.S., Meshram, G.G., Lahkar, M. et al. Evaluation of the role of nitric oxide and antioxidation in the antiulcer activity of Ocimum sanctum leaves: an experimental study. Orient Pharm Exp Med 15, 313–317 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-015-0197-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-015-0197-3

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