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Abstract
Ocimum gratissimum is a widely recognized medicinal plant known for its diverse therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. Its rich content of bioactive compounds has made it a staple in traditional medicine for managing infections, digestive disorders, and general wellness. This study investigates the nutritional composition, amino acid profile, antioxidant potential, enzyme inhibitory activity, and phytochemical constituents of O. gratissimum stem extract, providing scientific insight into its medicinal relevance. The qualitative Proximate analysis showed high carbohydrate (53.69%), crude fiber (12.50%), and crude protein (12.26%) content with notable levels of moisture (7.40%), ash (6.27%) and crude fat content (4.92%). Amino acid profiling revealed abundant essential and non-essential amino acids, notably Isoleucine (29.42 mg/ml) and Alanine (22.55 mg/ml). In vitro Total Antioxidant Capacity assay demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, with ascorbic acid values increasing from 0.31 to 0.52 mg/ml as the concentration rose from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/ml, while the In vitro Nitric Oxide Scavenging Assay showed a progressive increase in the %NO Scavenging from 42.48% to 55.03% for concentrations of 0.1 to 0.3 mg/ml, confirming significant radical scavenging ability. The extract also showed strong alpha amylase (60.43%) and alpha glucosidase (76.91%) inhibition. GCMS identified 35 bioactive compounds, with Erucic acid (with a peak area of 4.59%), D-carvone (5.78%), Oleic Acid (8.90%), Cyclopropane (17.01%) and 9 borabicyclo compounds (28.30%), having the most prominent peak areas. These results suggest the extracts potential in nutritional and therapeutic applications.
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