Hepatoprotective effect of Ocimum basilicum extract against the toxicity of diazinon in albino rats: Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation

Abstract

Recent studies showed that the Basil (Ocmuim basilicum) is known to have numerous pharmacological activities. The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of Ocmium basilicum extract, natural herb, against hepatotoxicity induced in rats by diazinon which is one of the most common insecticides. The intoxicated rats showed many pathological changes, including impairment of neutral structural organization of the hepatic lobule, leucocytic infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes and fatty degeneration. The immunohistochemical result showed increase cell proliferation as reflected by an increase in PCNA expression, whereas the increase in apoptotic rate was associated with an increase in the bax expression.  Moreover the biochemical results showed that there was an increase in transaminases(AST, ALT).Concomitant treatment with aqueous extract of Basil led to an improvement in histological and immunohistochemical changes induced by diazinon and this attributed to basil antioxidant activity and free radicals scavenging properties.