The Antioxidant and Hematopoietic Effects of the Methanolic Extract Fractions of Ocimum basilicum in Acetaminophen-Induced Albino Rats

This study investigated the antioxidant properties of the fractions of the methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum (OB) and their effects on the hematological parameters of acetaminophen-induced albino rats. Using vacuum liquid chromatography, the methanolic extract of OB were separated into 4 fractions (i, ii, iii and iv) and studied using the DPPH and FRAP assays. Fractions ii and iv with the highest antioxidant activities were selected for the animal study. A total of 42 albino rats were divided into seven treatment groups (GP) of six animals each, subdivided into 3 replicates with 2 rats each. For a period of 7 days, rats in GP1 and GP2 were administered water and silymarin (1000mg/kg), respectively, those in GP4 and GP5 were given 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of fraction ii, respectively, while those in GP6 and GP7 were given 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of fraction iv respectively. Rats in GP3 were administered 750mg/kg of acetaminophen (per os) on day 8 only. The results indicated that, in comparison with the control groups (1, 2 and 3), rats in GRP4 showed increased (P<0.05) hemoglobin concentration and total WBC count while GRP5 had increased (P<0.05) PCV and MCV. Rats in GRP 6 showed increased (P<0.05) MCV and MCHC compared to control groups while those in GRP7 showed decreased (P<0.05) PCV and MCV compared with the positive control. It was concluded that the free radical scavenging activity of methanolic extract fractions of OB increased in a dose-dependent manner and high doses (1000mg/kg) of fraction ii showed increased hematopoietic activity.