Mucoadhesive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential of basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.) as an innovation for effective xerostomia therapy: An in silico study

The germinated clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) seeds being a potent source of dietary fibre, minerals and antioxidants are utilized as functional ingredients for the enrichment of gluten-free pasta. The germinated clove basil seed and sweet basil seed incorporated pastas with acceptable sensory scores were developed by substituting 30% and 15% of gluten-free flour respectively. Basil seed pastas exhibited lesser cooking time (7-8 min), cooking loss (6%) and similar texture as that of control. The clove basil seed pasta exhibited better cooking quality, nutritional and antioxidant properties than the sweet basil seed pasta due to higher level of basil seed flour substitution. Consumption of one serving of clove basil seed pasta (75 g) could meet the dietary fibre (49%, 58%), protein (15%, 17%), magnesium (18%, 21%), phosphorus (22%, 22%), manganese (28%, 28%) and copper (28%, 28%) daily requirements of sedentary adult men and women, respectively.

Introduction: Cyclophosphamide is one of the alkylating chemotherapeutic drug used in cancer patients that has antifertility effects on female gonads. Ocimum basilicum is a natural herb rich in polyphenols and is known to improve fertility.
 Aims & Objectives: The study was designed to evaluate the role of natural herb, Ocimum basilicum extract, as a preventive agent against ovarian follicular toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide.
 Place and duration of study: This experimental study was performed in the Department of Anatomy, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. The duration of study was 8 months.
 Material & Methods: 45 female albino rats were divided equally in control group A, experimental group B and group C each contained 15 rats. Group A rats received single dose of 150 mg/kg normal saline intraperitoneally on 8th day of experiment, while group B was given single intraperitoneal dose of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide at day 8 of experiment. Group C rats were pretreated with methanolic basil (Ocimum basilicum) seeds extract for 7 days followed by single intraperitoneal dose of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide at day 8 of experiment. All the rats were dissected 48 hours after the last dose.
 Results: Graafian follicles were atrophied showing atretic granulosa cells in group B when compared with control group A with p value <0.001. However, significant improvement in status of Graafian follicles was observed in group C, when compared with group B with p value <0.025.
 Conclusion: This study depicts that basil seeds extract can prevent the cellular toxicity in Graafian follicles caused by cyclophosphamide treatment. So the use of basil seeds during chemotherapy can significantly limit its toxic effects on Graafian follicles.

Effects of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-based artificial saliva in patients with xerostomia

Recent foodborne outbreaks linked to basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) highlight the urgent need for effective intervention strategies covering the entire production cycle from seed to harvest. Foodborne pathogens, particularly E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium, pose significant public health risks when associated with fresh produce. Seeds serve as a primary vector for pathogen transmission, with contamination often originating from irrigation water, manure, or cross-contamination during handling. Traditional seed disinfection methods, such as chlorine-based treatments and hydrogen peroxide, have limited efficacy in reducing pathogens while maintaining seed viability. Eugenol has been shown to be an effective foodborne pathogen intervention in a variety of produce types. This study investigates the potential of eugenol (0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%), a phenolic monoterpenoid, as a seed treatment to control E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium and quality parameters on basil seeds over 14 days. All eugenol concentrations reduced pathogen loads by 4-5 log CFU/g at hr 0. However, antimicrobial efficacy declined significantly over time, with regrowth observed by 48 hrs, resulting in microbial levels not significantly different from the untreated control (p > 0.05). The 0.5% eugenol treatment consistently minimized negative impacts on germination rates (p > 0.05) and biomass (p < 0.05), offering the best balance between microbial control and plant health. These results underscore eugenol's potential as a short-term surface disinfectant for basil seeds and emphasize the need for combined strategies to sustain long-term efficacy.

Physicochemical characterization of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is found all over the world and is increasingly used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, the nutritional and functional properties of its seeds have been little studied. In the human body, vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, followed by activation in the liver and kidneys to form the active form D3 - cholecalciferol. It can also be obtained from plant sources in the form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). This vitamin performs a wide range of important functions, including optimizing mineralization processes in the body, inhibiting the proliferation of transformed cells, suppressing metastasis, inhibiting the activity of microorganisms, neutralizing reactive oxygen species, and participating in the maintenance of normal insulin secretion, among others. The aim of this study is to determine the content of vitamin D2 in basil seeds and in the aqueous extract from these seeds using a modified determination method, as well as to evaluate the obtained results for statistical reliability. As a result of the study, it was established that dry basil seeds have a significantly higher content of vitamin D2 compared to aqueous extracts from the same seeds. An effective agricultural approach to increasing the content of biologically active compounds in plant organisms is the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with various substances. As a result of the conducted studies, it was demonstrated that the most effective increase in vitamin D2 content in basil seeds was observed after pre-sowing treatment with combinations EPM (vitamin E + para-oxybenzoic acid + methionine) and EQ (vitamin E + ubiquinone-10). This may be related to the особенності of vitamin D2 biosynthesis in basil seeds and the influence of vitamin E, ubiquinone, para-oxybenzoic acid, and methionine on this process. By evaluating the correlation between relative frequencies and the frequencies of a normal distribution, it can be concluded that the method for determining vitamin D2 content in basil seeds using a modified colorimetric approach yields accurate results with low error. Determination of vitamin D2 content in basil seeds and in aqueous extracts from basil seeds across all groups indicates the absence of background absorption and a small relative error. These results may be useful in further studies of vitamin D2 content in plant organisms

Basil seed (Ocimum basilicum L.) has practical amounts of gum with good functional properties. In this work, extraction of gum from Basil seed was studied. Effect of pH, temperature and water/seed ratio on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters; entropy, enthalpy and free energy of extraction were investigated. The maximum gum yield was 17.95% at 50°C for pH=7 and water/seed ratio 30:1. In this study, the experimental data were fitted to a mathematical model of mass transfer and equations constants were obtained. The kinetic of Basil seed gum extraction was found to be a first order mass transfer model. Statistical results indicated that the model used in this study will be able to predict the gum extraction from Basil seed adequately. It also found that ΔH and ΔS were positive and ΔG was negative indicating that the extraction process was spontaneous, irreversible and endothermic. The ΔH, ΔS and ΔG values were 0.26-7.87kJ/mol, 8.12-33.2J/molK and 1.62-4.42kJ/mol, respectively.

Seeds basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) has been known to the publicand is widely used to treat a variety of diseases. One of its benefits as lowering fever but have not been proven scientifically. This study was to determine whether there is an antipyretic effecte basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.) and to determine the effectiveness of extracts of basil seeds by using some of the solvent is n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol compared with paracetamol in mice (Mus musculus). This study was an experimental study using RAL. Experimental animals used were 15 mice, stages of research giving treatment af mice in each group who had fasted for 12 hours, measured rectal temperature (initial temperature), then injected with 1 ml peptone/tail subcutaneously. The data obtained were analyzed ANOVA followed BNJ test. Test antipyretic extract basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum) with some solvent, most effectively used as a solvent in the basil seeds that solvent ethyl acetate compared with solvent n-hexane and ethanol. The results oft his study showed that the extract of basil seeds antipyretic effect.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae), and fennel seeds have been used since ancient times mainly as herbs and spices. Traditionally, it is believed to have therapeutic properties to improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, reduce the oxidation of cholesterol, and increase immune function, and control blood sugar levels. In various research studies, the extracts were found to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties as they are rich in polyphenolic aromatic compounds and all of them contain their specific bioactive compounds. Ginger, fennel seeds, and basil seeds are rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerol, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and apigenin. They also contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid, along with essential vitamins and antioxidant-rich compounds like polyphenols and tocopherols. In most food preservation, food preservatives are used in small quantities, as large amounts may cause harm. These spices are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) and can be used as food preservatives as it has medicinal properties. It is good for health and also plays an important role as a functional food.

This work was carried out to evaluate the physical, chemical and microbiological qualities of doi fortified with psyllium husk (Plantago ovate) and basil seed (Ocimum basilicum). Seven different types of doi - A (control), B (with 0.4% psyllium husk), C (with 0.8% psyllium husk), D (with 1.2% psyllium husk), E (with 0.7% basil seed), F (with 1.4% basil seed) and G (with 2% basil seed) were prepared. The highest total sensory score (86.67) was obtained in A type doi which differ non-significantly with B (81.67) and E (78.67) type doi. Addition of higher level of fiber lowered the overall physical score but with a higher total solids content of the doi. The higher fat and protein content were found in the doi with basil seeds which ranged from 4.88-4.97% and 3.90-4.21%, respectively. The addition of psyllium husk and basil seed significantly increase the crude fiber content of the doi and the highest value (0.41-0.48%) being recorded in D and G type doi. This fortification also helps to reduce the syneresis of the doi both at room and refrigeration temperature without affecting the total viable count. Therefore, doi can be fortified with dietary fiber without affecting much of its quality attributes.&#x0D; Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2021. 50 (2): 99-106

A comparative study of bioactive lipids extraction from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds using conventional petroleum-based solvent and green solvent 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) was performed. MeTHF extraction allowed obtaining the highest oil yield in black cumin (34%). Regarding fatty acids composition, linoleic acid (61%) and α-linolenic (78%) were relevant in black cumin and basil green and conventionally extracted oils, respectively. Besides, MeTHF allowed obtaining higher tocopherols and total phenolics contents in black cumin (400 mg/kg of oil and 12 mg EGA/g oil) and basil (317 mg/kg oil and 5 mg EGA/g oil) compared to hexane-extracted ones. The content of major phenolic compounds in the two seed oils, trans-hydroxycinnamic acid, rosmarinic acid, and thymol was enhanced by MeTHF extraction. Furthermore, MeTHF-extracted oils possess stronger antioxidant activities (radical scavenging, total antioxidant, and β-carotene bleaching activities) and high and similar anti-inflammatory capacity to hexane-extracted oils. In conclusion, the results revealed that MeTHF is efficient to replace hazardous solvents to extract oil from black cumin and basil seeds rich in compounds relevant to the human diet, including essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 and n-3), tocopherols, and phenolic compounds with improved biological activities.

The present study investigated the potential of basil seeds as adsorbent in order to remove famotidine drug from aqueous media. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of famotidine on the basil seeds were found to be 50 min contact time, 50 °C temperature, pH 1, 100 ppm concentration of famotidine, 0.03 g adsorbent mass and 50 rpm agitation rate. Pseudo 2 nd order kinetics with a higher correlation coefficient (R 2 =0.9942) suggested chemisorption as preferable mechanism of adsorption. However, the enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH=+33.67 KJ/mol) was less than that of chemisorption but higher than that of physisorption which was attributed to strong hydrogen bonding between famotidine molecules and basil seed surface. The Langmuir isotherm with higher R 2 (0.9960) than Freundlich isotherm (R 2 =0.8798) predicted maximum adsorption capacity (q m ) of 99 mg/g while suggesting monolayer and favourable adsorption. The adsorption was endothermic (+ΔH) and spontaneous (−ΔG) in nature. The FT‐IR spectroscopy confirmed that famotidine was adsorbed on basil seed via strong hydrogen bonding. The study proposed that the simultaneous intake of famotidine and basil seeds should be strictly avoided as the drug readily adsorbs on basil seeds in acidic environment (gastric pH) thereby reducing its curing effect.

Background: Basil and Chia seeds contain higher nutritive values like vitamin, carbohydrates, Omega-3 oil and other dietary fibers. With all these rich dietary benefits these seeds regulate necessary health conditions and maintain body weight. Ocimum basilicum (Basil) plant have been known to contain properties of weight loss, better digestion and other health benefits. Objective: The aim of this research was to check the Basil seed against hyperlipidemia in mice with Chia seeds. Methodology: In this research, the effect of both seeds extract on body weight and plasma lipid profile were estimated in Albino mice after raising their cholesterol levels by high fatty diet. The experiments were performed in different groups like normal control, standard control, hyperlipidemia group and four groups of diet supplemented chia or basil seeds with two different doses. Results: The biochemical analysis revealed that the supplementation of Basil seeds (400mg/kg/day) significantly lowered the levels of total plasma cholesterol, lipoproteins and triacylglycerol. Moreover, histopathological analysis of vital organs like kidneys, heart reported no toxicity. Conclusion: Extracts of Chia and Basil seeds have shown controlling effects over the given parameters in the blood and weights of the animals and these may have potential to control high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia when taken as dietary supplements. Keywords: Cholesterol, Hyperlipidemia, Ocimum basilicum, Salvia hispanica

Coronary heart diseases (CHD) are the leading cause of morbidity throughout the World irrespective of gender. CHD can be prevented by proper management of hyperlipidemia in aggregation with healthy diet and lifestyle. Objective: The current study was designed to ascertain the effect of basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum) on hyperlipidemia. Methods: The study was carried out at the University Institute of Diet &amp; Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore and Major Aziz Bhatti Teaching Hospital (DHQ) Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan for one year from April, 2021 to April, 2022. Sixty (60) cardiovascular patients from both genders, having cholesterol level ≥ 200 mg/dL were selected and divided into three groups, one group of twenty (20) patients was given no treatment (G0), second group of twenty (20) patients (G1) was given 5.0 g basil seeds per patient per day and third group of twenty (20) patients (G2) was given 10.0 g basil seeds for ninety days. The data was recorded for bio mass index (BMI), blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) at 0, 45 and 90 days of study period. Results: Both the doses of basil seeds significantly decreased bio mass index (BMI) from 40.59 to 31.16 (23.22 %), total cholesterol (TC) from 267.77 to 223.64 mg/dl (16.48 %) and triglycerides level (TG) from 250.15 to 207.77 mg/dl (16.94 %) of cardiovascular patients with P value of &lt; 0.001 during the whole span of study. The basil seeds (@ 5.0 and 10.0 g per patient per day significantly reduced bio mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) of cardiovascular patients during 45 and 90 days. However, the effect of basil seeds was observed sharper in case of 2nd dose i.e. 10.0 g of basil seeds per patient per day. Conclusion: Basil seeds have significant effect on lowering bio mass index, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels of cardiovascular patients

Abstract: Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds exhibit heterogeneity due to the characteristic flowering and pollination process of this species. Consequently, the necessity for research geared toward establishing effective methodologies for identifying seeds capable of germinating and with potential for producing vigorous seedlings becomes apparent. This study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the relationship between internal morphology, as evaluated through radiographic image analysis, and the germination performance of sweet basil seeds. Radiographs of seeds from eight lots of the cultivar Alfavaca Basilicão were examined. The length of seedling originated from radiographed seeds was obtained through computerized image analysis using SVIS® software and the results were compared with the radiographic images. Radiographs allowed visualization of the internal morphology of sweet basil seeds, enabling the identification of empty seeds, malformed seeds, seeds with tissue deterioration and mechanical damage. The analysis of radiographic images substantially contributed to establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the physical integrity of tissues and the germination performance of the seeds, underscoring the potential for selecting seeds that will contribute to enhanced lot quality.