O. sanctum L; O. tomentosum Lam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Sacred basil; Tulsi Ocimi sancti folium Most commonly the leaves, but the aerial parts or the seed oil are also used. The chemical composition varies depending on the cultivar, growing conditions, age of the plant and other factors. Holy basil contains essential oil composed of eugenol (ca 70%), methyl eugenol (approx. 20%), β-caryophyllene, carvacrol, methyl chavicol, linalool and others; flavonoids including apigenin, vicenin, cirsilineol and quercetin; polyphenolic acids including rosmarinic, protocatechuic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids; triterpenes including stigmasterol and ursolic acid; ocimarin (a coumarin), and ocimumosides A and B, which are glycoglycerolipids (Ahmad et al. 2012; WHO 2004; Williamson 2002). Overall, although there is a large body of pre-clinical work on this herb, it is not possible to draw clear conclusions on specific therapeutic effects from clinical studies (Engels and Brinckmann 2013). In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled six-week study using an extract of the whole plant (1200 mg/day, one capsule after breakfast and two capsules after dinner, for a maximum of 6 weeks), the severity of self-reported stress-related symptoms at weeks 0, 2, 4 and 6 of the trial was reduced significantly. Forgetfulness, sexual problems, feelings of exhaustion and sleep problems of recent origin decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) during this period (Saxena et al. 2012). In a double-blinded randomised controlled cross-over trial in healthy volunteers, an ethanolic extract of Tulsi leaves (300 mg capsules) resulted in immunomodulatory effects (Mondal et al. 2011). In a small cross over design clinical study in children, a holy basil preparation reduced salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans, comparable to that of chlorhexidine and Listerine treatment (Agarwal and Nagesh 2011).
Holy Basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum L.
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