Ocimum sanctum: Antioxidative efficacy in type 2 diabetes and its associated complications

Oxidative stress has been indicated as a possible underlying cause for the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its associated pathological complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, and neuropathy. The adverse effects attributed to synthetic drugs have necessitated exploring medicinal plants as sources of therapeutic chemical molecules. One such medicinal plant is the herb Ocimum sanctum, which has been reported to have different interesting biological properties. This chapter discusses the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the onset of T2D complications. It further describes the pharmacological properties of various categories of secondary plant metabolites such as phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and sterols identified in O. sanctum leaves, roots, and inflorescence parts. Similarly, the study further explores the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesogenic properties of the plant, as well as its phytochemical constituents in T2D complications. The chapter also proposed possible biochemical mechanisms depicting the reported biological activities of the plant.