M.M. WOLDEAMANUEAL*, B.S. GOSHU**^#

*Department of Chemistry, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

**Department of Physics, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

https://www.doi.org/10.59277/RJB.2025.3-4.05

Ocimum lamiifolium (OL), a medicinal plant widely used in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia is traditionally employed to treat infections, fever, and malaria, yet its scientific validation remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition and evaluate the medicinal activities of OL using advanced analytical techniques. Plant samples were collected from Bahir Dar, extracted with hexane and methanol, and analyzed using UV-Vis, FTIR, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Bioactivity was assessed through antimicrobial (disk diffusion/ minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antioxidant 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and antimalarial (Plasmodium falciparum 3D7) assays. Image analysis enhanced morphological understanding. The extracts revealed the presence of phenolics (e.g., eugenol, apigenin) and terpenoids (e.g., linalool), with eugenol exhibiting strong antimicrobial (MIC 0.5 μg/mL) and antimalarial (IC50 10.2 μg/mL) activities. OL-MeOH exhibited superior antioxidant activity (apigenin IC50 20.5 μg/mL). SEM-EDX confirmed a high carbon-oxygen matrix, supporting bioactivity. Image analysis highlighted structural features linked to chemical distribution. OL diverse phytochemicals validate its traditional use with potential applications in antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antimalarial therapies. Future research should prioritize in vivo studies, standardized extraction methods, and conservation strategies to facilitate the integration of Echinops kebericho into modern pharmacopeias.

Key words: Ocimum lamiifolium, phytochemistry, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial

Corresponding author’s e-mail: belaysitotaw@gmail.com