2022 Volume 9 Issue 3 Pages 175-185
Aim: Glycation reactions involve the binding of sugars to amino groups of proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGEs) via glycation intermediates. AGEs induce inflammatory and protein dysfunctions, leading to diabetes and skin aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-glycation effect of holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) leaf extract and identify the compounds responsible for these effects. Methods: The crude extract was obtained by hot water extraction of dried holy basil leaves. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the crude extract were determined. Phenolic compounds were isolated from the crude extract using various chromatographic methods. The effect of the crude extract and isolated compounds on the formation of fluorescent AGEs, Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), glyoxal (GO), and methylglyoxal (MGO) were examined. Results: The crude extract of holy basil was rich in polyphenols, most of which were flavonoids. Luteolin 5-O-glucoside (1), luteolin 7-O-glucuronide (2), (−)-rabdosiin (3), apigenin 7-O-glucuronide (4), rosmarinic acid (5), globoidnan A (6), and salvianolic acid A (7) isolated from the crude extract inhibited the formation of fluorescent AGEs, CML, 3-DG, GO, and MGO. In particular, compounds 3, 5, 6, and 7 were potent antiglycation compounds. The crude extract also showed high antioxidant activities. Conclusions: Phenolic compounds of holy basil were found to be the active components endowing antiglycative effects. One of the antiglycation mechanisms of these polyphenols could be related to the antioxidant action of holy basil.
