Vol. 14, Issue 5 (2025)

Author(s):
JMA Hannan, Md. Sifat Rahman and SM Tajul Islam

Abstract:
Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum) is widely used medicinal plant in the management of diabetes in the southeast Asia. Previous studies have shown that the antihyperglycemic effect of the ethanol extract the O. sanctum is related to insulin secretion. In the present study, the antidiabetic effect of O. sanctum was evaluated by the determining in vitro starch digestion, glucose diffusion and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The effects on the inhibition of carbohydrate digestion were determined by α-amylase as well as α-glucosidase enzymes. Cellulose fiber was used to assess the effect of O. sanctum on glucose absorption. The effect on free radicals was evaluated by the determination of DPPH activity. O. sanctum reduced (p<0.05-0.001) glucose liberation significantly during in vitro starch digestion, while glucose absorption decreased significantly (p<0.01-0.001). Additionally, it exhibited antioxidant activity significantly by scavenging DPPH (p<0.01-0.001) radicals by 78.2%. The study suggests that the ethanol extract of O. sanctum inhibits both carbohydrate digestion and absorption as well as reduced DPPH activity in a dose dependent manner. The isolation of active compounds from the plant might be a potential novel drug in the management of diabetes.