Background: One serious medical condition is ulcerative
colitis. Basil is known to have anti-inflammatory effect.
Aim: Evaluation of the beneficial effects of basil oil on a rat
model of colitis produced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).
Materials &Methods: 40 adult male albino rats were
alienated into 4 groups randomly. Each group was 10.
control group: 10 rats were alienated equally into 2
subgroups: Subgroup Ia: Five rats weren’t given any
treatment. Subgroup Ib: Five rats were given corn oil in a
dose of 1ml /kg / once daily for 10 days. Basil oil-treated
group: was given basil oil 0.2% diluted in corn oil as 1ml of
the solution /kg/day once daily for 10 days. DSS-treated
group: was given DSS 5% in tap water in a 5 mL solution
containing 25 mg of DSS / kg /day once daily for 10 days.
DSS and basil oil-treated group: was given DSS 5% and
basil oil as the same dose, duration of basil oil group, and
DSS-treated group. Results: DSS increased disease activity
index (DAI). It produced a disrupted histological
architecture of the colonic mucosa. A statistically
significant decrease in PAS reaction was observed, while
collagen deposition and iNOS immuno-expression
increased when compared to control group. Administration
of basil oil with DSS resulted in reduction in DAI and
restoration of colon architecture. the PAS reaction
increased, while collagen deposition and iNOS immunoexpression decreased, with no statistical difference with the
control group. Conclusion: Basil oil decreases histological
alterations in induced ulcerative colitis