Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Screening of Ocimum Basilicum Seeds

Basil seeds are traditionally believed to be used for therapeutic purpose to improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, reduce the oxidation of cholesterol, and increase immune function and to control blood sugar level.In present study, basil (Ocimum basilicum) seeds were used as the raw material for evaluation of their bioactive compounds.Active components of the seeds were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus with two different solvents petroleum ether and methanol.Basil seeds extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity against nine pathogenic bacteria.The strongest inhibitory activity of basil seeds extract was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae and Klebsiella pneumoniae.As per DPPH assay, the maximum free radical scavenging activity (73.85%) was shown by petroleum ether extract and the minimum activity (34.20%) was shown by methanol extract of basil seeds.Moreover, anticancer activity results clearly indicated that the basil seeds are a potential source of stable bioactive compounds.