Phytochemical profiling and <i>in vitro</i> pharmacological evaluation of aerial parts of <i>Ocimum basilicum</i>

Ocimum basilicum is a potential medicinal plant which possess distinct herbal properties with diverse phytochemical composition and in vitro biological activities. In the present study leaves, stems, and seeds of O. basilicum were collected, dried, powdered, and extracted using the Soxhlet method in methanol (15 cycles at 40°C) and stored after the lypholization. the extract were subjected to phytochemical screening along with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), radical scavenging, Protein denaturation assay and α-Amylase inhibition for comparative assessment of biological potential of prepared extracts. Methanolic extracts from leaves, stems, and seeds observed with the phytochemical compounds including alpha-amyrin, tau-cadinol, and gamma-sitosterol. DPPH radical scavenging activity found to be highest in seed extract (63.65 ± 0.66%) followed by Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT). Protein denaturation assay of leaf extract depicted superior inhibition of the protein (68.32 ± 1.41%) compared to seed and stem. α-Amylase inhibition assay also resulted in higher activity in seed extract compared to leaves and stem, however the activity of all three extract was comparable to acarbose. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant concentration-dependent effects across all assays (p < 0.05). The findings of the study, i.e. biological activities of the leaves, seeds, and stems of O. basilicum, which supports further exploration and utilization of the plant in healthcare and allied industries.