The Sacred Basil Ocimum sanctum L. An Ethnomedicinal Plant with Broad Therapeutic Potential

The Sacred Basil Ocimum sanctum L. An Ethnomedicinal Plant with Broad Therapeutic Potential | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Zenodo is currently experiencing slowness and intermittent outages due to heavy automated traffic from bots and AI crawlers. We are aware of the problem, and our team is focused on stabilizing the service. Thank you for your patience. Published March 31, 2026 | Version v1 Book chapter Open The Sacred Basil Ocimum sanctum L. An Ethnomedicinal Plant with Broad Therapeutic Potential Authors/Creators Syed Sadiq Abbas (Researcher) 1 Agha Parvez Masih (Researcher) 2 Zeba Sadia (Researcher) 3 Show affiliations 1.

Professor, Department of Zoology, Shia P.G. College, Lucknow-226020 2.

Corresponding Author, Professor, Department of Zoology, Shia P.G. College, Lucknow-226020 3.

Project Assisstant, Department of Zoology, Shia P.G. College, Lucknow-226020 Description Ocimum sanctum L., also known as Ocimum tenuiflorum or Tulsi, is a well-known medicinal plant valued for its wide range of health benefits in both traditional and modern medicine. It has long been associated with helping the body cope with various physical and environmental stressors that can contribute to disease. As our understanding of stress and its effects on the body has grown, especially its role in causing imbalance and disease, the importance of Tulsi as a medicinal plant has become clearer. The diverse pharmacological effects of O. sanctum are largely due to its rich phytochemical composition, which includes compounds such as eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and other flavonoids. These bioactive compounds act on multiple systems in the body, helping to reduce inflammation, enhance antioxidant defenses, regulate immune responses, and support neuroendocrine function. Tulsi has been reported to exhibit a wide range of therapeutic activities, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anticancer, and radioprotective effects. Most of the research so far comes from experimental studies, but increasing clinical evidence also suggests that Tulsi has real therapeutic benefits. It supports overall balance in the body by improving metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, and helping the body better cope with stress. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemical composition, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic applications of O. sanctum . It also highlights existing research gaps and discusses future possibilities for integrating Tulsi into evidence-based healthcare. Overall, Tulsi emerges as a multi-targeted medicinal plant with significant potential for promoting holistic health and resilience. Files 10. Syed Sadiq Abbas.pdf Files (557.8 kB) Name Size Download all 10. Syed Sadiq Abbas.pdf md5:5fb28efde1de1d454ec076d08da375e4 557.8 kB Preview Download Additional details References 1. Abbas, S.S., Singh, N., 2006 Anti-stress Agents (Herbs) of Indian Origin, in: Sharma, R.K., Arora, R. (Eds.), Herbal Drugs-A Twenty First Century Perspective. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publications (P) Ltd, New Delhi. pp. 578-591. 2. Ahmed, M., Ahamed, R. N., Aladakatti, R. H., & Ghosesawar, M. G. (2002). Reversible anti-fertility effect of benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves on sperm parameters and fructose content in rats. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 13(1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp.2002.13.1.51 3. Arya, R., Faruquee, H. M., Shakya, H., Rahman, S. A., Begum, M. M., Biswas, S. K., et al. (2024). Harnessing the antibacterial, antidiabetic and anticancer properties of Ocimum sanctum Linn. Plants, 13(24), 3516. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243516 4. Asha, M. 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Lipid‐lowering and antioxidative activities of aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum L. leaves in rats fed with a high‐cholesterol diet. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2011(1), 962025. 51. Ganasoundari, A., Devi, P. U., & Rao, M. N. A. (1997). Protection against radiation-induced chromosome damage in mouse bone marrow by Ocimum sanctum. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 373(2), 271-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0027-5107(96)00208-4 52. Yadav, I., Kumar, R., Fatima, Z., & Rema, V. (2024). Ocimum sanctum as a potential immunomodulator for ischemic brain injury. Current Molecular Medicine, 24(1), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.2174/1566524023666221212155340 166 Views 84 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 166 166 Downloads Total downloads 84 84 Data volume Total data volume 48.5 MB 48.5 MB More info on how stats are collected.... 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