Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like potential of the essential oil from the Ocimum basilicum Linn leaves and its major constituent estragole on adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The Ocimum species present active compounds with the potential to develop drugs for treating chronic disease conditions, such as anxiety and seizures. The present study aims to investigate the anticonvulsant and anxiolytic-like effect of the essential oil from O. basilicum Linn (OEFOb) leaves and its major constituent estragole (ES) in vivo on adult zebrafish (aZF) and in silico. The aZF were treated with OEFOb or ES or vehicle and submitted to the tests of toxicity, open-field, anxiety, and convulsion and validated the interactions of the estragole on the involvement of GABAergic and serotonergic receptors by molecular docking assay. The results showed that the oral administration of OEFOb and ES did not have a toxic effect on the aZF and showed anxiolytic-like effects with the involvement of GABAA, 5-HT1, 5-HT2A/2C and 5-HT3A/3B as well on anxiety induced by alcohol withdrawal. The OEFOb and ES showed anticonvulsant potential attenuating the seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) by modulation of the GABAA system. Both anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects were corroborated by the potential of the interaction of ES by in silico assay. These study samples demonstrate the pharmacological evidence and potential for using these compounds to develop new anxiolytic and anticonvulsant drugs. •The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum Linn (OEFOb) and its major constituent estragole (ES) demonstrate the pharmacological evidence of anxiolytic effect.•The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum Linn (OEFOb) and its major constituent estragole (ES) demonstrate the pharmacological evidence of anticonvulsant effect.•The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum Linn (OEFOb) and estragole did not have a toxic effect on the adult Zebra Fish.•Ocimum basilicum Linn essential oil and estragole showed anxiolytic effects via GABAA, 5-HT1, 5-HT2A/2C, and 5-HT3A/3B in alcohol withdrawal.•Ocimum basilicum Linn essential oil (OEFOb) and estragole exhibit anticonvulsant potential by attenuating PTZ-induced seizures via GABAA system modulation.