Basil ( Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum tenuiflorum ) Reduces Azoxymethane Induced Colon Tumors in Fisher 344 Male Rats

摘要

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of three varieties of ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) (Denmark (HBD), Cuba (HBC), India (HBI)) and one variety of ocimum basilicum (Culinary Basil) (CB) on Azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in Fisher 344 male rats. After a 1 week period of acclimatization, rats were divided into groups. Basil leaf powder was mixed at 1% level in an AIN 93G/M based diet. Rats were administered 2 injections of AOM (s/c injections at 16 mg kg^-1 body weight in saline) at 7 and 8 week of age to induce colon carcinogenesis. Rats were killed by CO₂ asphyxiation and samples of colon, cecum and liver, were collected. Colon tumors were characterized according to number, size, location and tumors per tumor bearing rat ratio. Feeding Basil (1%) resulted in significantly lower tumor incidence compared to rats fed the control diet. Tumors/tumor bearing rat ratio was reduced by 78% in rats fed Basil diets compared to rats fed the control diet. Tumor size (mm) was significantly (p<0.05) smaller in treatment diets (CB: 1.20, HBD: 0.8, HBC: 0.8, HBI: 0.6 and control: 3.72) compared to control diet. Selected hepatic enzyme activities (Glutathione-S-Transferase, Superoxide dismutase and Catalase) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the rats fed Basil compared to rats fed the control diet. Results showed that feeding Holy and Culinary Basil significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of AOM-induced colon tumors in Fisher 344 male rats and therefore may have implications in food industry as a potential chemopreventive agent.