本實驗探討純化的七層塔的莖葉水萃物對於肝臟的保護的效果。實驗分別以體內試驗及體外試驗模式來觀察七層塔水萃物對於CCl4誘導肝臟發炎及體外保護功效。結果顯示在CCl4誘導肝纖維化六週大鼠，每公斤體重餵食6 mg純化七層塔莖葉共同水萃物，其肝臟脂質過氧化物 (malondialdehyde; MDA) 生成脂質過化為0.27 nmol/mg protein較對照實驗組0.38 nmol/mg protein有顯著性下降 (P<0.05)。為了比較莖與葉不同的功效，繼續測試四氯化碳誘導肝損傷的保護功效。分別大鼠每公斤體重餵食40 mg和20 mg七層塔葉或莖水萃物，其肝臟脂質過氧化物在葉水萃物組分別為0.36 nmol/mg protein和0.18 nmol/mg protein及在莖水萃物組分別為0.28 nmol/mg protein和0.19 nmol/mg protein皆較對照組 (0.85 nmol/mg protein) 有極顯著性下降 (P<0.01)。另外餵食純化七層塔莖與葉水萃物也具有極顯著性下降。綜合以上結果，推測莖與葉都具有預防肝臟發炎的效果，莖與葉之間並無差異。進一步進行七層塔之亞級毒性測試，結果顯示在28天後，不論雌或雄鼠七層塔水萃物並不影響大鼠血清生化值。另外，為了更進一步了解其機制，利用H2O2誘導肝癌細胞株HepG2氧化性傷害。結果發現七層塔莖與葉皆具有恢復HepG2細胞的生存保護作用，同時抑制HepG2細胞內MDA的生成。 綜合以上結果，我們認為七層塔莖與葉水萃物都有預防肝臟發炎的效果。
In this study, the protective effect of the leaf and stem extracts of Ocimum Gratissimum L. extract (OGE) on liver was investigated.The experimental procedure was to examine the protective potential of OGE showed CCl4-induced liver inflammation in vivo and in vitro.The results showed that the expression of the hepatic lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in CCl4-induced group (0.27 nmol/mg protein)supplemented with 6 mg purified leaf & stem OGE per kg body weight per day for six weeks was significantly decreased as compared with that in the group with CCl4 treatment only (0.38 nmol/mg protein) (P<0.05).To compare the potential of leaf and stem OGEs, CCl4-induced acute liver injury was performed. The results indicated that the producted of the hepatic MDA by CCl4 was inhibited in the group supplement either with leaf OGE or stem OGE. However, no significant difference between groups with leaf OGE and stem OGE was observed. In subacuted toxicity testing in rats (28-days application period), where a maximum daily dose of 100mg OGE per kg body weight was orally administered to rats, no serious adverse reactions were noted. Furthermore, to understand the protective mechanism, the effect of the leaf and stem OGEs on the oxidative stress was evaluated in vitro. The results showed that both of them restored cell survival in hydrogen peroxide H2O2-treated HepG2 cells, and also decreased the product of MDA. Take together; these data suggested that both leaf and stem OGEs were found to have a protective effect on the liver against inflammation.
