Ocimum herb species: a potential treatment strategy for diabetic kidney disease.

Ocimum sp or Tulsi is one of the precious medicinal plants in India which is considered as a queen of herbs. The genus Ocimum includes at least 30 species which have established in tropics and sub-tropical regions. Leaves and flowering tops are vital in extracting the essential oil. Oil of O. sanctum is discovered to have five fatty acids (stearic, palmitic,oleic and linoleic and linolenic acids). It is said to be resource of beta carotene, calcium,vitamin C. Eugenol, beta-cymne, Carvacol are naturally occurring chemicals in tulsi leaves which have tremendous use as anti bacterial activity. Linalool and Rosamarinic acid have anti oxidant and mosquito repellents. It can assist in normalizing blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid profiles and also dealing with psychological and immunological stress [1,2]. Different species of this medicinal plant incorporated with herbal medicine.

Since, plants are considered to be source of medicines and of those medicinal plants measured as loaded with secondary metabolites and oils which are of healing significance. In this review, we summarized the currently potential and possible mechanisms underlying the action of tulsi oils and metabolites for therapy of diabetic kidney disease and expect many more studies for further verification.

A variety of medicinal properties have been credited to O. sanctum. Whole tulsi plant has been found to possess several healing properties. Flower, Leaf, Stem, Root, every part of the plant is used as an expectorant, analgesic, anticancer, anti asthmatic, anti-emetic, diaphroretic, anti-diabetic, anti-fertility, hepato protective, hypotensive, hypolipidemic etc [1].

Ocimum gratissimum could significantly reduce cell viability of lung adeno carcinoma even at the lower concentrations of 500-800 micrograms per ml. Ocimum gratissimum inhibits the activation of ERK but can enhances activation of JNK, P38 to trigger apoptotic cascade in lung adenocarcinoma [3]. Few other studies related with epoxide forms of lutein, eugenol and lupeol induce p53 thereby decreasing expression of bcl-2 and increasing expression of BAX proteins to trigger apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells [4]. Tulsi essential oils largely composed of monoterpenes which have been proved as cytotoxic in various cell lines HePG2, HU60, MCF7, Hela, U 251 as well as VERO cell [5]. When LNCaP cells were treated with ethanolic extracts of tulsi, 24 h and 48 h of treatment significantly resulted in apoptosis via activation of caspase3 and caspase9, thereby resulted in DNA fragmentation and cell death [6]. Oflate, researchers are drawing importance of tulsi in eradication of various kinds of cancer in possible ways.

Leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum significantly decreases blood glucose in glucose induced hyperglycemic and STZ-induced diabetic rats. The result was more effective with the normal and hyperglycemic conditions of in-vivo studies. Dropping down blood glucose and uronic acid and increasing the lipid profile is the consequence feature. Overall tulsi plants have anti-diabetic potentials in many ways [7–9].
The administration of extract of Ocimum sanctum in combination with Ginkgo biloba showed cardioprotective effect by protecting ventricular dysfunction via increasing level of antioxidant enzyme and decreasing the production of free radicals [10]. Another study revealed that the administration of homogenate of leaves of Ocimum sanctum for 30 days showed preventive action in isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis in wistar rats through increasing the level of endogenous antioxidants [11].

Few studies also confirmed that supplement of Ocimum products could successively lower the fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose and HbA1c thereby resulting the hypoglycemic effect [12,13]. Striking feature is that the increasing diabetes is prone to cancer commencement. Further, fresh leaf and stem extracts of Ocimum own very good antioxidant properties so they have involved in prevention of excess oxidation, increasing SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx anti oxidant enzymes thus protecting cells from damage by scavenging highly free radicals [14]. Besides, anti-inflammatory potential of ocimum has been found [15–17].

Antihypertensive effects of Ocimum basilicum L. on blood pressure in renovascular hypertensive rats have been reported [18]. Ocimum gratissimum (L.) (Lamiaceae) and its ursolic acid and ellagic acid, were studied for their inhibitory activity against rat lens and kidney. In addition, in vivo inhibition of lens galactitol accumulation by the major constituents of the plants in galactose-fed rat has been studied. The plants and their major constituents as possible protective agents against long-term diabetic complications [19]. In vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and nephroprotective studies on leaves of Ocimum sanctum [20]. In addition, protection against mercury-induced renal damage in Swiss albino mice by Ocimum sanctum [21].

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease [22]. Oxidative stress is a key factor responsible for progression of DKD [23]. As clinical trials of several antioxidants against oxidative stress-associated tissue injury have failed [24], inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation might become a promising strategy to treat DKD. Current therapy including tight control of blood glucose and blood pressure and inhibition of angiotensin might delay but does not stop the development and progression of kidney injury in diabetes [25]. Therefore, new and comparatively more effective therapeutic measures for diabetic nephropathy are essential. Considering all, ocimum herbs may become a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of DKD.

Diabetes and kidney diseases are the diseases of multi factor type so we should always rely on view of multi dimensional treatment. In Asian countries medicinal herbs are of great importance. They are easily available and cost effective. Although there is no long term practice or large scale clinical trials, till date data suggested that Genus Ocimum is safe, effective herb towards normalizing glucose, blood pressure and lipid profiles and dealing with psychological and immunological stress. Also revealed that tulsi has a unique combination of actions that include: Antimicrobial (including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, anthelmintic), mosquito repellent, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, radioprotective, hepato-protective, neuro-protective, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-hypertensive, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, central nervous system depressant, memory enhancement, anti-asthmatic, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, anti-fertility, anti-ulcer, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, anti-arthritic, adaptogenic, anti-stress, anti-cataract, anti-leukodermal and anti-coagulant activities [26]. These are now summarized in Figure 1.

Furthermore, these studies indicate the daily addition of tulsi to the diet and/or as adjunct to drug therapy can potentially assist in prevention or reduction of various kidney diseases including DKD. Our suggested scheme for Ocimum herb induced anti-DKD effects have been shown in Figure 2.

IP conceived the study; IP and AM collected the data; IP and AM wrote the paper.

The authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist.