Ocimum gratissimum (OG) leaf extract was consistently shown to possess antidiabetic properties in animal models of diabetes mellitus. This was linked to its ability to promote peripheral glucose utilization while conserving glycogen by inhibiting glycogen phosphorylase activity in the diabetic animals. The models of diabetes mellitus used in the earlier studies were characterized by pancreatic beta cell destructions which created an hypoinsulinemic condition. The effect of OG is therefore not known in conditions like metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of ocimum gratissimum on glucose metabolism in dexamethasone-induced metabolic syndrome in male Wistar rats. Twenty male Wistar rats (130 ± 20 g) were randomly grouped into four (n=5 each) as control, normal+OG, Dex and Dex+OG. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to Dex and Dex+OG groups followed by normal saline and OG (400 mg/kg), respectively; while control and normal+OG were administered normal saline and OG, respectively. Body weight and fasting blood glucose level were monitored before and after the treatments. After 10 days of treatments, under anaesthesia by sodium thiopental (50 mg/kg, i.p.), blood samples were obtained for fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin levels; liver and soleus muscle biopsies were taken for the determination of glycogen content and hexokinase activity; pancreas was obtained for histology; and HOMA-IR was calculated using FBG and insulin level. Values are mean ± SEM, compared using ANOVA and post-test analysis at α0.05. Body weight was significantly reduced in the Dex and Dex+OG group compared with the control. The FBG (147.8 ± 9.93 mg/dL), insulin (2.98 ± 0.49 µIU/ml) and HOMA-IR (1.11 ± 0.22) of Dex animals were significantly higher than the control (FBG = 89.22±6.53mg/dL; insulin = 1.70 ± 0.49 µIU/ml; HOMA-IR = 0.37 ± 0.04); this was however reduce by OG treatment in the Dex+OG (FBG= 115.31 ± 5.93mg/dL; insulin = 1.85 ± 0.11µIU/ml; HOMA-IR = 0.53 ± 0.08) compared with Dex. Liver and muscle glycogen contents significantly depleted in the Dex were reversed in the Dex+OG while; hexokinase activity was reduced in the liver and muscle of the Dex but increased in the muscle of the Dex+OG. It was concluded that ocimum gratissimum leaf extract may promote cellular insulin actions on glucose metabolism in Wistar rats with metabolic syndrome induced by dexamethasone.