OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the cardiac effects of extracts derived from the aerial parts of
Ocimum basilicum
Linn.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
The aerial parts of
Ocimum basilicum Linn. were extracted with 95% ethanol and double distilled water. The extracts were screened for their effects on frog-heart
in situ preparation. Enzyme studies such as Na
+/K
+ ATPase, Ca
2+ATPase and Mg
2+ATPase were done on the heart tissue aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were estimated in the heart tissue and serum of albino rats after administering the extracts for 7days.
RESULTS:
The alcoholic extract produced significant positive ionotropic and negative chronotropic actions on frog heart. The positive ionotropic effect was selectively inhibited by nifedipine. A significant decrease in membrane Na
+/K
+ ATPase, Mg
2+ATPase and an increase in Ca
2+ATPase pointed the basis for the cardiotonic effect. The aqueous extract produced positive chronotropic and positive ionotropic effects which were antagonized by propranolol indicating that these might have been mediated through β-adrenergic receptors. Nifedipine also blocks the action of the aqueous extract.
CONCLUSION:
The alcoholic extract exhibited a cardiotonic effect and the aqueous extract produced a β-adrenergic effect.
