{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,13]],"date-time":"2026-10-13T16:28:38Z","timestamp":1791908918359,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,4]],"date-time":"2023-05-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1683158400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> is a sacred medicinal plant bestowed with multiple health benefits. This plant is traditionally considered an adaptogen. Many scientific studies have indicated the anti-stress potential of <jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> but with higher doses. The present study investigated the effects of Holixer<jats:sup>TM<\/jats:sup> (a clinically studied standardized <jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> extract) on modulating stress using two <jats:italic>in vivo<\/jats:italic> models, namely the swim endurance study in mice and forced swim test in rats. In addition, we explored the mechanism of action of Holixer<jats:sup>TM<\/jats:sup> on the HPA axis using two <jats:italic>in vitro<\/jats:italic> cell-based assays to check for its inhibitory effect on cortisol release and CRF1 receptor antagonistic activity. <jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> extract enhanced the swimming time in mice, reduced the stress-induced increase in immobility time, and prevented the increase in corticosterone in rats subjected to the forced swim test. Further, <jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> extract inhibited cortisol release and exhibited a significant CRF1 receptor antagonist activity. Thus, <jats:italic>Ocimum tenuiflorum<\/jats:italic> extract was found effective in managing stress, and the effect could be due to the inhibition of cortisol release and the antagonistic effect on the CRF1 receptors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0285012","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,4]],"date-time":"2023-05-04T17:50:50Z","timestamp":1683222650000},"page":"e0285012","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Ocimum tenuiflorum extract (HOLIXERTM): Possible effects on hypothalamic\u2013pituitary\u2013adrenal (HPA) axis in modulating stress"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Mohan Gowda","family":"C. 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