Key application Psychovegetative disturbances, depressive moods, anxiety and or nervous unrest. Externally, oil preparation for treatment and post-therapy of acute and contused injuries, myalgia
320 Hyptis suaveolens (Linn.) Poit.
and first degree burns. (German
Commission E, ESCOP, British
Herbal Pharmocopoeia.)
The herb contains hypericin and pseudohypericin (0.0095 to 0.466% in the leaves and as much as 0.24% in the flowers), rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, methyihesperidin, caffeic, chiorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids.
Plant’s standardized extract (0.3% hypericin) shows antidepressant activity by inhibiting MAO.
A biflavonoid, amentoflavone, isolated from the plant, exhibited anti- inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activity.
Alcoholic extract of the plant shows in vivo hepatoprotective activity in rodents.
The oily extract of the flowers have been found effective in wound-healing due to the antibiotically active acylphlorogucinol, hyperforin.
The aerial parts show significant antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
A lyophilized infusion from the aerial parts exhibited antiviral activity and inhibited reproduction of different strains of influenza virus types A and B both in vivo and in vitro.
The whole herb is effective against many viral infections.
Hyptis suaveolens (Linn.) Poit.
Family Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat Native to tropical America. Distributed throughout India.
Ayurvedic Tumbaaka (provisional synonym).
Folk Gangaa Tulasi, Vilaayati Tulasi, Bhunsari.
Action Carminative, antispasmodic, antisoporific, antirheumatic, anticephalalgic, lactagogue. Used in catarrhal and uterine affections, parasitical cutaneous diseases, epistaxis.
The plant gave lupeol, lupeol acetate and friedelin, leaves and flowers gave campesterol and fucosterol; roots contained beta-sitosterol, oleanolic and alpha-peltoboykinolic acids.
The plant gave an essential oil containing l-sabinene. l-limonene and azulenic sesquiterpenes as major constituents. The oil inhibits the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly,
