Benefits of Holy Basil

Hibiscus Flower

July 13, 2018

Irvingia Gabonensis

July 27, 2018

Holy Basil

Holy basil's scientific name is Ocimum sanctum and it has been arguably considered one of the greatest herbs that has been discovered. It has served endless miracles of medicinal value and has been utilized in India for thousands of years.

Being in close proximity of a tulsi plant even has benefits as far as fighting off many infections. Utilizing a few leaves placed in drinking water or food can purify it killing germs. This plant is known as an adaptogen and can counter many of life's stresses.

Stress and Anxiety Relief - This calming herb has many effects that relax the body. Ethanol extract of leaves of ocimum sanctum was screened for its antistressor actions against acute and chronic noise stress in albino rats by investigating the plasma corticosterone level in these animals. Treatment of animals with ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum prevented the changes in plasma level of corticosterone induced by exposure to both acute and chronic noise stress, indicating the antistressor property of the plant against noise.

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In conclusion, the study findings revealed that OciBest, the whole plant extract of O. tenuiflorum, was found to be 1.6 times or 39% more effective in the management of stress symptoms in comparison to placebo group and the herbal supplementation was well tolerated by all the patients over the six weeks of study period.

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Anti-Inflammatory - The results observed between the (Ocimum basilicum essential oil) EOOB and estragole demonstrate efficacy in anti-inflammatory activity, however, the essential oil is more efficacious in the acute and chronic anti-inflammatory action. This study confirms the therapeutic potential of this plant and reinforces the validity of its use in popular medicine.

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The result of the present study validated traditional use of Ocimum sanctum for treating cardiovascular disease for the first time by testing antiinflammatory activity of Ocimum sanctum in acute inflammatory model, LPS induced THP-1 cells. The plant extracts showed significant antiinflammatory activity, however, further to be evaluated using chronic inflammatory animal models like diabetic or apolipoprotein E-deficient mice to make it evidence based medicine.

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Improve Cognition - Tulsi has the ability to assist with memory and focus by increasing the acetylcholine levels. In all the three models both aqueous and alcoholic O. sanctum extracts decreased the time taken to reach the shock-free zone and the number of mistakes and significantly decreased the AChE activity in rats. O. sanctum treatment significantly increased the induration in the DNCB skin test. Therefore, O. sanctum was shown to be useful for the management of experimentally induced cognitive dysfunctions in rats.

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Diabetes and Sugar Imbalance - Experimental studies on albino rats reported that leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum and Ocimum album (holy basil) had hypoglycemic effect. The lower values of glucose represented reductions of 17.6% and 7.3% in the levels of fasting and postprandial blood glucose, respectively. Urine glucose levels showed similar trend. Mean total cholesterol levels showed mild reduction during basil treatment period. The findings from this study suggest that basil leaves may be prescribed as adjunct to dietary therapy and drug treatment in mild to moderate NIDDM.

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Protects Liver - The Ocimum sanctum group showed better hepatoprotection than the Ocimum sanctum and silymarin combination group. However, in the given doses, the Ocimum sanctum leaf extract alone and in combination with silymarin showed lesser hepatoprotective effect than silymarin alone. Silymarin is a well-known standard hepatoprotective, whereas presence of impurities in the Ocimum sanctum extract may have caused a lower hepatoprotective effect.

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Anti-Cancer -The aqueous extract of Tulsi and its flavanoids, orintin, and vicenin are shown to protect mice against γ-radiation-induced sickness and mortality and to selectively protect the normal tissues against the tumoricidal effects of radiation. The other important phytochemicals like eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and carnosic acid are also shown to prevent radiation-induced DNA damage. This review summarizes the results related to the chemopreventive and radioprotective properties of Tulsi and also emphasizes aspects that warrant future research to establish its activity and utility in cancer prevention and treatment.

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Reduces Pain - The results of our study suggest that the analgesic action of OS is exerted both centrally as well as peripherally and involves an interplay between various neurotransmitter systems.

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Bone Healing - In the present study, the period of immobilization was the lowest in the Ocimum sanctum group followed by the Cissus quadrangularis group. The tensile strength measured in terms of biting force was maximum in the Cissus quadrangularis group. Thus, we conclude that the use of such traditional drugs will not only be a breakthrough in the management and early mobilization of facial fractures, but will also prove to be a boon to the present day life of industrialization, where many more cases of traumatic injuries are bound to occur.

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