Anti-inflammatory and antiedematogenic activity of the Ocimum basilicum essential oil and its main compound estragole: In vivo mouse models

• Published in: Chemico-biological interactions Vol. 257; pp. 14 - 25
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Lindaiane Bezerra, Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins, Anita, Cesário, Francisco Rafael Alves Santana, Ferreira e Castro, Fyama, de Albuquerque, Thaís Rodrigues, Martins Fernandes, Maria Neyze, Fernandes da Silva, Bruno Anderson, Quintans Júnior, Lucindo José, da Costa, José Galberto Martins, Melo Coutinho, Henrique Douglas, Barbosa, Roseli, Alencar de Menezes, Irwin Rose
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 25-09-2016
• Subjects: Animals; Anisoles - isolation & purification; Anisoles - pharmacology; Anti-edematogenic activity; Anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Chemical composition; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - drug therapy; Estragole; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - drug therapy; Mice; Models, Animal; Ocimum basilicum; Ocimum basilicum - chemistry; Oils, Volatile - analysis; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Anti-edematogenic activity; HPLC-DAD; Ocimum basilicum; ip; NIH; Regional University of Cariri; Estragole; COX; CONCEA; sc; Brasil; LOX; Anti-inflammatory activity; vo; Chemical composition; EOOB
• ISSN: 0009-2797; 1872-7786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.07.026

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.
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•Determination of chemical finger print of EOOB by GC-MS.•Screening of activity show anti-inflammatory action of essential oil and Estragole majority compound of EOOB.•Screening of activity show anti-edematogenic action of essential oil and Estragole majority compound of EOOB.•Elucidations of mechanism of actions by histamine and arachidonic assay.