STUDIES ON BASIL SEED MUCILAGE FOR PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATION

Objective: Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a versatile and traditional medicinal plant renowned for its potential to treat various diseases. Basil seeds constitute a promising alternative in designing pharmaceutical preparations owing to their ability to produce a mucilaginous gel in water. The objective of the present study is to investigate the change in skin hydration and hemocompatibility following pharmaceutical applications of basil seed mucilage. Methods: The study aims at hydrothermal extraction of basil seed mucilage from seeds, studies on its specific physicochemical parameters, hemocompatibility, and investigation on rat skin hydration by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. Results: The outcome of the study exhibited that basil seeds produced 11 to 13% mucilage with an aqueous solubility of 97.23 ± 0.5% (*P<0.01) and swelling capacity of 31.51±0.43 ml/g (*P<0.05) in 6 h, indicating superior skin moisturizing property. FTIR spectroscopic analysis of the mucilage proposed hydrogen bond formation, presence of amide groups of proteins, uronic acid, and pyranose sugar. The hemocompatible mucilage (2000µg/ml) demonstrated a potent anti-inflammatory effect (194.53±7.78 %), showcasing its promise for topical application. Skin hydration studies in rats confirmed significant improvement in skin moisture with 1% w/v mucilage gel. Conclusion: Therefore, basil seed mucilage exhibited possibilities for pharmaceutical application and skin hydration in animals, offering a safe, natural, and better alternative.