kingshuk Lahon

Photoaging is the term used to describe the characteristic changes that appear in the skin when it is chronically exposed to Ultra Violet (UV) rays. Photoaging is associated with increased risk of causing skin cancer. Antioxidants play an important role in prevention and treatment of photoaging. To evaluate the preventive efficacy of oral Ocimum sanctum against photoaging in mice model. Six weeks old Swiss Albino mice of either sex weighing 25g to 35g were divided into three groups A, B, C (n=6). Group A was given UV irradiation alone, group B was given UV irradiation and oral Ocimum sanctum, group C was neither given UV irradiation nor oral Ocimum sanctum, for 8 weeks. Groups A, B and C were sacrificed and evaluated for moisture content, epidermal thickness by histopathology and antioxidant property by TBARS assay. Results were expressed as Mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis were done by One way ANOVA and student’s unpaired t test. Efficacy in prevention: Moisture content of group A (11.57±0. 29) showed significantlylower value than group B (21.96 ±2. 1). Group B has a lower value compared to group C (27.56 ±2. 4). On TBARS assay, Group A (1.083±0.03) value is more than group B (0.459±0.01), Group B value is more than group C (0.536±0.01). On histopathology examination group A showed atrophy of epidermis. B showed near normal histology and C showed normal histology. This study has proved that oral Ocimum sanctum can be used for prevention of photoaging. It warrants further study in humans before including them in the prophylaxis of photoaging.