Comparison of Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum tenuiflorum Herbal Formulation and its Mediated Nanoparticles and Nanocomposite: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: Antioxidants play a crucial role in maintaining oral health by counteracting oxidative stress and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) to combat dental diseases. The present Investigated the antioxidant properties of an herbal formulation derived from African basil and black tulsi, both individually and in nanoparticle-based formulations. The present study addressed the need for advanced, sustainable antioxidant therapies by exploring the synergistic potential of nanoparticles synthesised via green methods from Ocimum tenuiflorum (African tulsi) and Ocimum gratissimum (black tulsi) extracts. By combining the bioactive properties of these herbs with the unique capabilities of nanoparticles, the research goals to enhance antioxidant efficacy and offer innovative solutions for oxidative stressrelated dental and biomedical applications. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum tenuiflorum herbal formulation and its mediated nanoparticles and nanocomposite in neutralising oxidative stress and their potential as advanced antioxidant products. Materials and Methods: The present in-vitro study, conducted between January and June 2023 at Nanobiomedicine lab, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, evaluated the antioxidant properties of a herbal formulation derived from Ocimum tenuiflorum (black tulsi) and Ocimum gratissimum (African basil) both individually and in nanoparticlebased formulations. The study included herbal extracts with significant phytochemical content and the methodology involved green synthesis of silver (AgNPs) and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using the herbal formulation, followed by their characterisation and evaluation via 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2 O2 ), and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Results: The herbal formulation exhibited antioxidant activity in all assay when compared to the standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid), which achieved a maximum inhibition of 92.4 at 50 µg/ mL. Incorporation into nanoparticle structures led to further enhancement of antioxidant activity, with the nanocomposite demonstrating the highest antioxidant activity among all samples tested, achieving 90.91 inhibition in the DPPH assay, 86.5 inhibition in the H2 O2 assay, and a FRAP value of 86.81 at 50 µg/mL, compared to ascorbic acid. Due to the use of a single sample per concentration, p-value cannot be computed and the results are demonstrated using bar graphs. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide compelling evidence of the potent antioxidant properties of the herbal formulation derived from African basil and black tulsi, particularly when incorporated into nanoparticle-based formulations. These results suggest that herbal-nanoparticle combinations could serve as effective alternatives or supplements to traditional antioxidants, offering a natural and sustainable approach to combating oxidative stress.