Abstract
Ocimum basilicum L. (O. basilicum L.) with the vernacular name of Reihan or Reyhan is a medicinal plant from the Lamiaceae family, widely used in traditional Algerian medicine. The aim of the present study was to research the traditional uses and the mode of application of O. basilicum L. in the M’sila region (northern Algeria), to estimate the content of polyphenols and flavonoids in methanolic and aqueous extracts of this plant and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts by the 2, 2’-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). The results of ethnopharmacological survey showed that decoction of leaves in fresh or dry form is the most frequent use. The yields of extracts were 28.67% and 15.24% for the methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of different compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and essential oils. The results demonstrated that the methanolic extract presented a high polyphenols and flavonoids contents with 225.99 ± 3.13 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract and 83.63 ± 3.48 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry extract, respectively. The evaluation of the antioxidant power is carried out using the method of trapping of the free radical DPPH, with BHT as reference antioxidant. The results showed that the methanolic extract has a significant free radical scavenging capacity with an IC50 value of 304.82 ± 24.15 µg/ml; which was greater than the trapping capacity of BHT (IC50 = 327.46 ± 13.11 µg/ml). Whereas, the aqueous extract has a weaker effect with an IC50 value of 2122.81 ± 107.77 µg/ml.
 Keywords: BHT, DPPH, flavonoids, Ocimum basilicum L., polyphenols.
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