Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury Attenuated by Ocimum gratissimum Aqueous Extract in Mice

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by diffuse inflammatory damage to the alveolar–capillary barrier, and effective pharmacological options remain limited. Ocimum gratissimum contains bioactive constituents with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but its effects in experimental ALI have not been sufficiently characterized. Methods: Male BALB/c mice were assigned to control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or LPS plus O. gratissimum aqueous extract (OGE) groups (n = 4 per group). OGE was administered at 2.4 mg/mL in drinking water for three days before the intratracheal LPS challenge. Since individual consumption was not recorded, 300 mg/kg/day is reported as an estimated exposure only. Mice were euthanized 30 h after LPS administration. Lung histopathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and blinded semiquantitative injury scoring. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: LPS induced inflammatory-cell infiltration, alveolar septal thickening, and focal hemorrhage, along with increased lung-injury score and serum IL-6 levels. OGE prophylactic pretreatment reduced these histopathological abnormalities, lowered the injury score, and suppressed the LPS-associated increase in circulating IL-6. These findings are preliminary because each group contained four animals and only systemic IL-6 and histology were assessed. Conclusion: In this preliminary prophylactic study, short-term oral pretreatment with OGE attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice. Larger, dose-ranging studies using standardized extract, measured dosing, bronchoalveolar lavage endpoints, and post-injury administration are required before therapeutic conclusions can be drawn.