Gholamreza Kavoosi - Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, ۷۱۴۴۱-۶۵۱۸۶, Iran.

The ex vivo antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum essential oil (OBEO) was determined through measuring NADH oxidase (NOX) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages. GC-MS analysis indicated that the main components in the OBEO were methylchavicol (47%), geranial (19%) and neral (15%). OBEO significantly reduced NOX and iNOS mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages at non-cytotoxic concentrations of 1-10 mg/mL. OBEO could potentially be used as a safe and effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions.

Ocimum basilicum, Essential oil, Macrophages, NADH oxidase, NOS