Phenolic extract from Ocimum basilicum restores lipid metabolism in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice and prevents lipoprotein-richplasma oxidation

In this study we investigated the hypolipidemic and anti-lipoprotein-oxidation activities of phenolic extract from sweet basil a popular culinary herb. The hypolipidemic activity was studied in mice model injected intraperitoneally with Triton WR-1339 at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The animals were grouped as follows: normolipidemic control group (n = 8), hyperlipidemic control group (n = 8) and phenolic extract-treated group (n = 8) at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. After 7 h and 24 h treatment, the oral administration of the phenolic extract exerts a significant reduction of plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.001). On the other hand, we demonstrated that the phenolic extract prevents plasma lipid oxidation by 16% (P < 0.001), 20% (P < 0.001), 32% (P < 0.001) and 44% (P < 0.001) at a doses of 10, 25,50 and 100 mu g/mL, respectively. The results were compared with ascorbic acid used as standard synthetic antioxidant. HPLC analysis shows that the extract contains 4 major phenolics and is especially rich in rosmarinic acid. This finding indicates that the phenolic extract might be beneficial in lowering hyperlipidemia and preventing atherosclerosis. (C) 2017 Beijing Academy of Food Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.