Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) leaves aqueous extract improve learning and memory in the monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity model of Alzheimer's disease through attenuating brain oxidative damage in experimental mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant known in Cameroon for the treatment of many ailments like anxiolytic, antispasmodic and mental disorders.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Ocimum basilicum.

Materials and methods: T-maze test and open field test and the assay of oxidative stress parameters were used for detecting its capacity to protect neurons against excitotoxicity induced by monosodium glutamate.

Results: It was found that the Ocimum basilicum significantly increased the time spent in the preferred arm of the T-maze as well as the number of entries in the same arm. The first time arm choice latency decreased significantly in the animals treated by the compared to those treated with glutamate monosodium. In the open field test, it was noted an increase in the time spent in the center and the number of lines crossed. Results shows that the of Ocimum basilicum significantly reversed the oxidative damage induced by monosodium Glutamate by reducing the levels of MDA and increasing the concentration of CAT, GSH, SOD compared to the negative glutamate monosodium and distilled water treated groups respectively [F (5, 15) = 13.51; P < 0.001]; [F (5, 15) = 12.42; P < 0.001]; [F (6, 24) = 79.74; P < 0.001] and [F (5, 15) = 18.27; P < 0.001].

Conclusion: These results suggest that Ocimum basilicum possess neuroprotectives properties in mice that might involve an action on antioxidant defense system in the central nervous system