Chemopreventive activity of Ocimum sanctum seed oil.

The seed oil of Ocimum sanctum was evaluated for chemopreventive activity against subcutaneously injected 20-methylcholanthrene induced-fibrosarcoma tumors in the thigh region of Swiss albino mice. Supplementation of maximal tolerated dose (100 microl/kg body weight) of the oil significantly reduced 20-methylcholanthrene induced tumor incidence and tumor volume. The enhanced survival rate and delay in tumor incidence was observed in seed oil supplemented mice. Liver enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione) and lipid peroxidation end product, malondialdehyde levels were significantly modulated with oil treatment as compared to untreated 20-methylcholanthrene injected mice. The results of this study suggest that the potential chemopreventive activity of the oil is partly attributable to its antioxidant properties. The chemopreventive efficacy of 100 microl/kg seed oil was comparable to that of 80 mg/kg of vitamin E.