The effects of basil extract and essential oil on lipid parameters inrats fed with high cholesterol diet

Hyperlipidemia develops due to lipid metabolism disorder and is expressed as an increase in plasma lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. Hyperlipidemia causes a vascular disorder called atherosclerosis, which causes cellular-humoral reactions as a result of lipid accumulation under the intima layer of the vessels. Traditional herbal medicines and their preparations have been widely used for thousands of years as natural remedies with therapeutic and other pharmacological effects due to their natural origin and fewer side effects. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic activity of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L), grown in the Arapgir district of Malatya and received geographical indication. In the study, male 70 Wistar Albino rats were used and 7 groups were formed. Control, Control + basil extract (200 mg/kg body weight), Control + basil essential oil (70 mg/kg body weight), Cholesterol Control, Cholesterol + basil extract (200 mg/kg body weight), Cholesterol + basil essential oil (70 mg/kg body weight) and Cholesterol + fenofibrate (200mg/kg body weight) a trial design was created. At the end of the study, blood and liver samples were taken from all animals for analysis. Feeding a high- cholesterol diet increased serum lipid profiles, leptin, hepatic triglyceride, cholesterol levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, FAS, LXRs, ACLY and SREBP-1c expression in the liver in rats. The extract and essential oil reduced serum triglycerides by 28.2%, 30.7%, and total cholesterol by 21.7% and 14.5%, respectively. The applications did not return the AST and ALT activities to their normal levels. Extract and fenofibrate administration decreased serum leptin levels by 17.5% and 27.5%, respectively. The extract reduced hepatic triglyceride by 16.4% and total cholesterol by 22.1%. Fenofibrate reduced the triglyceride and hepatic total cholesterol by 25.5% and 46.3%, respectively. While the decrease in MDA levels was 34.6% in the extract applied group, this rate was lower in the essential oil applied group. Expression of FAS, LXRs, ACLY and SREBP-1c in the liver decreased by 20.9%, 15.4%, 20.7% and 16.9%, respectively, when the extract was applied. For those treated with essential oil, the decline was 9.9%, 13.6%, 10.2%, and 12.5%. In conclusion, Arapgir purple basil causes positive changes in serum and liver lipid profile and lowering effect in cholesterol depending on the phenolic components in its structure. Keywords: Hyperlipidemia, Purple basil, Extract, Essential oil