|
Botanical Name :
Ocimum sanctum
Sanskrit Name:
Tulsi
English Name :
St. Josephwort
Family : Labiatae
Part used: Leaves,
Seeds and Root
Description of
Ocimum sanctum:
The plant, is a shrub reaching a height of 0.5 to 1.5 m. The
leaves are 2-4 cms in length. There are several varieties of the
plant. However, commonly used one is with dark leaves. The
inflorescence is a long spike with tiny purple flowers. |
 |
Medicinal uses:
Traditionally Ocimum sanctum is used in malarial fevers, gastric
disorders and in hepatic infections. Ocimum sanctum leaves are
also used in bronchitis, ringworm and other cutaneous diseases
and earache. The leaves are used as a nerve tonic and to sharpen
memory. Ocimum sanctum leaves are abundant in tannins like
gallic acid, chlorogenic acid etc and also contain alkaloids,
glycosides, and saponins along with the volatile oil.
Phytochemistry:
The leaves contain an essential oil which has been studied with
gas chromatography. The oil contains eugenol, eugenal, carvacrol,
methyl-chavicol, limatrol and caryophylline.
The seeds contain an oil composed of fatty acids and sitosterol.
The mucilage is compared of sugars - xylose and polysaccharides.
Pharmacology:
Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil has been shown
against M. tuberculosis and Staph aureus in vitro and other
bacteria and fungi. Eugenol and methyleugenol showed a positive
activity. Adaptogenic (antistress) activity has been found in
mice and rats. The plant increased the physical endurance and
prevented stress-induced ulcers. In general pharmacology the
aqueous extract showed hypotensive activity and inhibited the
smooth muscle contraction induced by acetylcholine, carbachol
and histamine. It also potentiated the hexobarbitone sleeping
time. Protective action against histamine-induced bronchospasm
has been shown in animals.
A tea prepared with the leaves of Tulsi is commonly used in
cough,cold,mild indigestion, diminished appetite and malaise.The
solid extract of Tulsi, in a dose of 500 mg x 3 for one week,
significantly relieved the breathlessness in 20 patients with
tropical eosinophilia. There was however no reduction in the
eosinophil count in peripheral blood. It is commonly used with
black pepper in bronchial asthma. An oil extracted from Tulsi is
used as drops in ear infections. Fungal and bacterial infections
of skin are treated with Tulsi juice. The seeds are used as a
general tonic.
Herbal Extract packing:
|
