Chemical composition, anti-diabetic activity and cytotoxicity of three organic extract of ocimum basilicum : an in vitro study

Sleman Kadan, Institute of Chemistry, hebrew university, Jerusalem , israel

Insulin causes GLUT4 translocation to the surface of myoblasts, where it mediates the increase in glucose uptake. To examine the effect of Ocimum basilicum L. (OB) extracts (an anti-diabetic medicinal plant) on GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane, L6-GLUT4myc cells exposed to three distinct OB extracts (methanol, hexane, dichloromethane). No sign of toxic effects was appreciated in cultured skeletal muscle cells treated with increasing concentrations of the plant mixtures up to 0.5 mg/ml. The extracts anti-diabetic activity was examined by measuring the relative amount of GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane in the presence and absence of insulin. L6 muscle cells, stably expressing myc-tagged GLUT4, were utilized. These cells have been repeatedly shown to display insulin regulated GLUT4 traffic. L6 myoblasts were pre-treated with increasing concentrations of OB extracts for 20h, followed by 3h serum-deprivation and insulin stimulation for 20 min and then GLUT4myc levels at the plasma membrane was determined. OB methanol and hexane extracts enhancement of the  surface GLUT4myc was more evident than the dichloromethane extract. Methanol and hexane extracts at 0.25mg/ml encreased GLUT4 translocation 3 times and 7 times in the absence and presence of insulin respectively.

Moreover, the compounds in these extracts we identified. GC/MS study revealed new ingredients OB extracts, that were identified for the first time in OB. Some of them are known to possess anti diabetic activity. Collectively, our results demonstrate safety, tolerability and efficacy of herbal compounds that seems to be safe for use and regulates glucose homeostasis.