Tulasi - Ocimum sanctum (O.Tenuiflorum)
Family Labiatae; Lamiaceae.
Habitat Throughout India; grown in houses, gardens and temples.
English Holy Basil, Sacred Basil.Ayurvedic Tulasi, Surasaa, Surasa,Bhuutaghni, Suravalli, Sulabhaa, Manjarikaa, Bahumanjari, Devadundubhi, Apet-raakshasi, Shuulaghni,Graamya, Sulabhaa.
Action Leaf-carminative, stomachic,antispasmodic, antiasthmatic,antirheumatic, expectorant, stimulant,hepatoprotective, antiperiodic,antipyretic and diaphoretic. Seed- used in genitourinary diseases.
Root-antimalarial. Plant-adaptogenic,antistress. Essential oil- antibacterial, antifungal. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India seed in rhinitis and influenza; the seedin psychological disorders, includingfear-psychosis and obsessions. Major components of the essentialoil are eugenol, carvacrol, nerol and eugenolmethylether.
Leaves have been reported to contain ursolic acid, apigenin,
luteolin, leaves showed hepato-protective effect
against paracetamol-induced liver damage. The plant extract exhibited antiulcerogenic
property against experimental ulcers. Oral administration of alcoholic extract of leaves lowers blood sugar level in normal, glucose-fed hyperglycaemic
Administration of the juice of the plant affected a significant reduction in the size of urinary brushite crystals. A study of methanol extract and aqueous suspension of the leaves showed immunostimulation of humoral immunologic response in albino rats indicating the adaptogenic action of the plant. Dosage Seed : 1t o 2 g powder (API, Vol. IV); plant : 12-24 ml infusion
