Aqueous Extract of<i>Tulsi</i>(<i>Ocimum sanctum</i>) Enhances Endogenous Antioxidant Defenses of Human Hepatoma Cell Line (HepG2)

Abstract

The effects of Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae), Tulsi on the cellular oxidative state in a hepatocyte cell line (HepG2) and its putative potency to enhance endogenous antioxidant defenses were investigated. Cells were incubated with aqueous extracts of Tulsi (1–100 μg·ml−1) between 4 and 48 h, and biochemical markers of OS were determined. Tulsi up to 100 μg·ml−1 concentrations had no effect either on cytotoxicity or cell proliferation but increased the levels of glutathione (18%–32%) and antioxidant capacity (19%–31%) of cells and enhanced activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Results suggested that aqueous extract of Tulsi reduced the basal OS in HepG2 cells, by induction of antioxidant enzymes and enhancing levels of antioxidant molecules either of which can potentially effect faster dissipation of ROS.