One kilogram of fresh Ocimum sanctum leaves,
identified by Botany Department of Mumbai
University, was collected and washed thoroughly
with cold water, dried in the shade at room temperature
and, thereafter, crushed in an electrical
mixer-grinder. The powdered leaves of O. sanctum
were extracted with distilled water in soxlet apparatus
up to four cycles (Paech, Tracey & Sharma
1956). The extracted material was filtered through
sterile muslin cloth and the filtrate obtained was
evaporated (below 40°C) to dryness in vacuo
(BUCHI India Private Ltd., Mumbai, India). The
yield was 10.25% w/w with respect to dry powdered
material for O. sanctum. The dried powder
(crude aqueous extract of O. sanctum leaf) was
weighed and stored at 20°C till further used. The
percentage of the protein was measured by Bradford’s
method and the value was 11.7%.