Protective role of Ocimum canum plant extract in alcohol-induced oxidative stress in albino rats.

Ethanol is the most frequently abused drug and causes a variety of pathological disturbances. It causes toxicity to tissues by generating free radicals during the course of its metabolism that can damage cellular structure and function, especially in hepatocytes. This study investigates the preventive and protective effects of Ocimum canum on alcohol-induced oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were used in three separate experiments. First, two groups of six rats each (normal control and alcohol-treated) were used to establish hepatotoxicity. The alcohol-treated group showed a significant increase in TBARS and decreased activities of SOD, catalase, GSH, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid. Second, the preventive effect of the O. canum extract was assessed. Four groups of rats (six in each group) were used and the experimental groups were treated with ethanol and graded doses of the extract for four weeks. Normal control and alcohol-treated groups were also assessed. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential were quantified in plasma samples, which showed that the extract had a preventive effect. Third, the curative effect of the extract was assessed. The rats were divided into four groups comprising a normal control group on a normal diet and three other groups given alcohol for four weeks to establish alcohol toxicity. One of the alcohol groups was used as a control and the other two alcohol groups were given graded doses of the extract. After four weeks the rats were sacrificed in order to assess the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potentials. The results indicated that the O. canum extract had hepatoprotective abilities against alcohol-induced oxidative stress.