Basil Extract (Ocimum basilicum L) Exhibits Antidiabetic and Hepatoprotective Effects via SIRT1 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARγ) on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Rats Model

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism that causes hyperglycemia and insulin resistance during pregnancy. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptorγ (PPARγ) are genes that play a role in glucose metabolism. Dysregulation of SIRT 1 and PPARγ is associated with the GDM. Hyperglycemia in GDM induces inflammation and oxidative stress in hepatocytes causing liver damage. Basil extract (Ocimum basilicum L) is one of indonesia medicinal plant has been used as traditional medicice in diabetic disorder. This study aims to investigate the hypoglycemic activity of basil extract by evaluating the expression of SIRT 1 and PPARγ in GDM rats and investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of basil extract by analyzing the rat’s liver histology. Twenty-four of pregnant rats were divided into four groups; negative control, positive group induced by streptozotocin 40 mg/kg BW intraperitoneally, and two groups of GDM rats treated with 100 mg/kg BW and 200 mg/kg BW of basil extract for 14 days. Blood glucose levels were examined with a blood glucose meter. The expression of SIRT 1 and PPARγ was assessed by the RT-PCR. Histological analysis of the rat`s liver was conducted to determine the percentage of cell damage and tissue edem The data were statistically processed using SPSS. The extract of basil at a dose of 200 mg/kg BW showed an anti-diabetic effect which decreased the glucose level concentration by about two times compared to the untreated rat. It enhanced the expression of SIRT-significantly with a value of p= 0.035 (p <0.05). Basil extract-treated group showed a trend of increasing PPARγ expression, but not statistically significant. In addition, HE staining on the liver showed a tendency to improve in the group given basil extract. This Study concluded that basil extract could increase SIRT 1 and potential to be an anti-hyperglycemic therapy with a hepatoprotective effect.