Inhibitory effect of leaves extracts of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum on two key enzymes involved in obesity and hypertension in vitro

Emmanuel Anyachukwu Irondi; Samson Olalekan Agboola; Ganiyu Oboh; Aline Augusti Boligon

doi:10.5455/jice.20160814112756

Inhibitory effect of leaves extracts of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum on two key enzymes involved in obesity and hypertension in vitro

J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016 Aug 22;5(4):396-402. doi: 10.5455/jice.20160814112756. eCollection 2016 Sep-Dec.

Authors

Emmanuel Anyachukwu Irondi¹, Samson Olalekan Agboola², Ganiyu Oboh³, Aline Augusti Boligon⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Biochemistry Unit, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
³ Department of Biochemistry, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria P.M.B., 704, Akure 340001, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Phytochemical Research Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Building 26, Room 1115, Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the phenolics composition and inhibitory effect of the leaves extracts of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum on two key enzymes (pancreatic lipase [PL] and angiotensin 1-converting enzyme [ACE]) involved in obesity and hypertension in vitro.

Materials and methods: The phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids) were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. PL and ACE inhibitory effects; DPPH* and ABTS*⁺ scavenging activities of the extracts were tested using spectrophotometric methods.

Results: O. basilicum had the following major phenolics: Rutin, quercetin, and quercitrin (flavonoids); caffeic, chlorogenic, and gallic acids (phenolic acids); while O. gratissimum had the following major phenolics: Rutin, quercitrin, and luteolin (flavonoids); ellagic and chlorogenic acids (phenolic acids). "Extracts of both plants inhibited PL and ACE; scavenged DPPH* in a dose-dependent manner". O. gratissimum extract was more potent in inhibiting PL (IC_50: 20.69 µg/mL) and ACE (IC_50: 29.44 µg/mL) than O. basilicum (IC_50: 52.14 µg/mL and IC_50: 64.99 µg/mL, against PL and ACE, respectively). O. gratissimum also scavenged DPPH* and ABTS*⁺ more than O. basilicum.

Conclusion: O. basilicum and O. gratissimum leaves could be used as functional foods for the management of obesity and obesity-related hypertension. However, O. gratissimum may be more effective than O. basilicum.

Keywords: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme; Ocimum species; hypertension; obesity; oxidative stress; pancreatic lipase.