| Abstract: |
Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as Tulsi or Holy Basil, represents a significant medicinal plant in Indian traditional medicine systems. This integrated biotechnological study aimed to identify and evaluate bioactive constituents in O. sanctum leaves through phytochemical analysis, antioxidant assessment, and antimicrobial activity evaluation. Fresh O. sanctum leaves were collected and subjected to sequential solvent extraction using methanol, ethyl acetate, butanol, and n-hexane. Advanced analytical techniques including High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry were employed for constituent identification. Results revealed high total phenolic content (212.26±6.3 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (54.51±3.5 mg QE/g) in butanol extracts. Major bioactive compounds identified included eugenol, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, luteolin, and apigenin. The extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant activity with DPPH EC50 values ranging from 3.91±0.3 to 8.61±0.6 μg/ml. Essential oil analysis showed methyl eugenol (92.4%) and eugenol (2.4%) as predominant constituents. Antimicrobial assays revealed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC values below 100 μg/mL. The integrated biotechnological approach successfully characterized O. sanctum as a rich source of therapeutic bioactive compounds with significant pharmaceutical potential. |
