Free Radicals Scavenging and Protein Protective Property of Ocimum sanctum (L)

Ocimum sanctum (L) is a well-known herbal plant used for the treatment of bronchitis, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin disease, arthritis, eye diseases and insect bites. It is proposed to have anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, antimicrobial, cardio protective, analgesic and antispasmodic action. In our present study, we have tried to explore its antioxidant, free radical scavenging and its ability to prevent damage to protein from free radicals. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Ocimum sanctum leaves was determined using ferric thiocyanate, thiobarbituric Acid, 2, 2-diphenyl-1–picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging methods. Further, its protein protective property was evaluated using UV- VIS spectrophotometer methods. The results of ferric thiocyanate and 2, 2-diphenyl-1–picrylhydrazyl methods were determined that O. sanctum have strong antioxidant activity (92.12%) and free radicals scavenging property (50.74%) respectively. Further, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging methods determined that extracts (100 µg/ml) have hydrogen peroxide (20.12%), hydroxyl radicals (12.68%) and superoxide radicals (21.68%) scavenging activity respectively. Hemoglobin is a standard protein which was damaged by hydrogen peroxide treatment and this damage was confirmed by UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The extract showed the significant pre and post protein protective action against hydrogen peroxide induced hemoglobin damage. Thus the study concluded that O. sanctum leaves have strong antioxidant, free radicals scavenging and pre and post proteins protective property.