Girdhari Lal Gupta
SVKM’S NMIMS University, India
Title: Effects of Ocimum sanctum Linn. in alcohol abstinence anxiety, depression and gene expression analysis in the amygdala and hippocampus of the rats
Biography
Biography: Girdhari Lal Gupta
Abstract
India’s Queen of herbs Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn., family Labiatae) have huge medicinal uses. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of Ocimum sanctum in alcohol abstinence syndrome, developed following long–term voluntary alcohol intake in rats. The hydro–alcoholic extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves (HEOS) was first characterised for the presence of oleanolic acid (0.54% w/w), eugenol (0.39% w/w) and caryophyllene (0.02% w/w) and subsequently acute, sub–acute toxicity studies were also performed. For evaluation of the effects of HEOS in ethanol abstinence syndrome, healthy Wistar rats were enabled to voluntary drinking of 9% v/v alcohol for fifteen days. The behavior studies were conducted employing tail suspension test, forced swim test, light–dark model and elevated–plus maze test on day 16th, 17th & 18th and peak ethanol withdrawal syndrome were determined. HEOS (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) and diazepam were administered orally on peak withdrawal symptoms. Expression of Gabra1, Gabra2, Gabra3, Gabra4, Gabra5 genes for GABAA receptor and Grin1, Grin2a, Grin2b genes for NMDA–glutamate receptor in the amygdala and hippocampus of the rats were also determined. The results revealed that no observed adverse effect level was higher than 2000 mg/kg, orally. HEOS exhibited significant protective effect at doses 300 & 500 mg/kg, but 100 mg/kg showed insignificant protection against alcohol abstinence syndrome like anxiety and depression. The increased expression of NMDA–glutamate receptor and decreased expression of GABAA receptor following ethanol abstinence were also reversed by HEOS. Thus, HEOS has protective role in the ethanol abstinence syndrome.