Therapeutic Potential of Ocimum basilicum in Diabetes-Malaria Comorbidity: Evidence From Parasitemia, Biochemical, and Coagulation Outcomes in Mice.

Abstract

Diabetes-malaria comorbidity presents a significant therapeutic challenge in endemic regions, as both conditions synergistically impair hepatic and renal function and lack targeted dual-action treatments. Despite the reported antidiabetic and antiplasmodial properties of Ocimum basilicum (OCB), its efficacy in the concurrent management of these diseases remains unexplored. This study therefore evaluated the therapeutic potential of the hydromethanol extract of OCB on parasitemia, biochemical markers of organ function, inflammatory cytokines, and coagulation parameters in a murine model of diabetes-malaria comorbidity. Fifty-six male mice were divided into eight groups (n = 7): control, diabetes only, malaria only, diabetes + malaria, malaria + OCB, diabetes + OCB, diabetes + malaria + OCB, and diabetes + malaria + metformin. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, i.p., for 5 consecutive days), followed by inoculation with Plasmodium berghei. Parasitemia was quantified by Giemsa-stained thin blood films; fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum creatinine, urea, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), activated partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were measured. The plant extract was profiled for phytochemicals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). OCB significantly reduced parasitemia relative to untreated infected controls (p < 0.05). In comorbid animals, OCB lowered FBG by 33.22%, creatinine by 70.58%, and urea by 26.32% compared with the untreated comorbid group. Hepatic enzyme activities (ALT and AST) were reduced more effectively by OCB than by metformin, indicating hepatoprotective activity. IL-6 levels were also significantly suppressed (p < 0.01), while TNF-α and coagulation parameters remained largely unchanged. The GC-MS analysis identified forty-three bioactive compounds, with predominant compounds including gamma-sitosterol, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, and N-methyl-1-adamantane acetamide. These findings demonstrate that OCB exerts antiplasmodial, antihyperglycemic, and organ-protective effects in diabetes-malaria comorbidity, highlighting its potential as a source of phytopharmaceutical agents for the integrated management of these co-occurring diseases.

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