Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic and lipoprotein protective effects of a phenolic extract from sweet basil.
Methods: The antihyperlipidemic activity was evaluated using Triton WR-1339 and a high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemic mouse models. In the Triton model, plasma lipids were measured after 24 hours of treatment, whereas in the HFD model, body weight, food intake, plasma and fecal lipids were determined biweekly. After 45 days of treatment, the livers and abdominal adipose tissues were weighed and lipid measurements for each group were performed.
Results: In both models, the phenolic extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, atherogenic index (AI) and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and increased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.001). Besides, the phenolic extract significantly repressed the gain in body, liver and adipose tissue weights while the food intake was not significantly hindered. Moreover, phenolic extract decreases TC and TG in the liver and adipose tissue and increases their fecal excretion. The phenolic extract exhibited a protective effect against plasma lipoprotein oxidation (IC₅₀=4.64±0.42 µg/mL) and neutralized DPPH free radical (IC₅₀=2.83±0.05 µg/mL) in a manner relatively similar to that exerted by BHA (synthetic antioxidant). Total phenolics in the extract represent 234.45± 0.84 mg/g and HPLC analysis reveals that the extract includes four main phenolics, with caftaric acid being particularly abundant.
Conclusion: This data suggests that sweet basil is an interesting plant food rich in phenolic compounds that might significantly reduce hyperlipidemia and prevent atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular complications.