Protective Effect of Ocimum basilicum on Brain Cells Exposed to Oxidative Damage by Electromagnetic Field in Rat: Ultrastructural Study by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Basil herb (Ocimum basilicum) has long been used in human nutrition. Nowadays antioxidant role of this herb is known more. The aim of this study was to study the anti-oxidative property of sweet basil to protect central nervous system against oxidative damages of electromagnetic field (EMF) and its affective sequences. Forty Albino male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups, 10 rats per each. Group 1 received normal diet (control group), group 2 was exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 8 weeks (EMF group). Group 3 was exposed to 50 Hz EMF and fed with basil extract (0.5 g/kg body weight) for 8 weeks (treatment group) and group 4 was fed with basil extract (0.5 g/kg body weight) for 8 weeks and named as herbal group. At the end of eighth week 5 mL blood was taken from all rats for biochemical analysis and for ultra structural study of brain neuron samples was taken. The results showed level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) peroxidase and catalase activity (CAT) were significantly increased in herbal and treatment groups as compared to EMF group (P < 0.05). Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased in treatment group as compare to EMF group (P < 0.05). Ultra structural evaluation of EMF group showed brain nucleus has a lot of heterochromatic changes and mitochondria have been ovulated and have swelling figure this changes were less in treatment group. Antioxidant capacity of basil extract can cause to decrease oxidative effects of EMF on brain tissue and in rats.