Basil
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Ocimum basilicum, known commonly as Basil, is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa, and in Central and South America (Zakaria, Aziz, Lachimanan, Sreenivasan, & Rathinam, 2008). Popular as a flavoring agent for salads, meat, sausage, and pizza (Cardoso et al., 2017), Basil is also widely used in folk medicine to treat headaches, coughs, kidney disorders and intestinal worms, and as an antispasmodic agent (Lee, Umano, Shibamoto, & Lee, 2005).
Historical Use
According to The Herball by John Gerard, published in 1579, Basil has many “virtues”; it was used to treat infirmities of the heart, digestive issues, headaches, and melancholy. Interestingly, it appears that Basil was also used, among other ingredients, to create concoctions used to reduce inflammation, as a diuretic, and to treat insect and scorpion stings.
Latest Research
- Comparative antioxidant activity of four Omani medicinal plants: Ocimum basilicum, Teucrium polium, Caralluma arabica, and Cleome amblyocarpa
by Juma Al-Mutaani on November 7, 2025 at 11:00 amCONCLUSION: The strong antioxidant properties of selected Omani plants, particularly O. basilicum and C. arabica, highlight their potential for therapeutic and nutraceutical applications.
- Microbiological and pharmacological investigation of phytochemicals extracted from selected ethnomedicinal plants with their potential against food pathogenby Aya M Abdel Gawad on November 7, 2025 at 11:00 am
This study investigates the phytochemical composition and biological activities of five ethnomedicinal plants: Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Ocimum basilicum (Basil), Origanum syriacum (Za’atar), Origanum vulgare (Oregano), and Salvia rosmarinus (Rosemary). These plants are traditionally used for their therapeutic properties, yet a comparative evaluation of their bioactivities is limited. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified using standard colorimetric assays. Antimicrobial…
- Healing effects of topically applied Ocimum basilicum L. on excisional wounds in miceby Karine Sthéfany Serpa Amaral Dias on June 11, 2025 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: OBEE shows promise as a potential healing agent in excisional wounds.
- Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Properties of Bauhinia rufescens, Ocimum basilicum and Salvadora persica, Used as Medicinal Plants in Chadby Hissein Hassan Abdel-Razakh on October 16, 2024 at 10:00 am
The plants Bauhinia rufescens, Ocimum basilicum and Salvadora persica are well known in traditional African medicine, and particularly in traditional Chadian medicine. They are commonly used to treat infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, fevers, gastroenteritis and other medical conditions. The aim of this study was to perform a phytochemical screening to determine the antioxidant properties of different extracts and fractions from the three plants. Ethanolic extracts and solvent fractions…
- Exploring Holy Basil’s Bioactive Compounds for T2DM Treatment: Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Human Omentin-1by Mohammad Jasim Ibrahim on September 11, 2024 at 10:00 am
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) presents a substantial health concern on a global scale, driving the search for innovative therapeutic strategies. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants, particularly Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil), have garnered attention for their potential in T2DM management. The increased focus on plant-based treatments stems from their perceived safety profile, lower risk of adverse effects, and the diverse range of bioactive molecules they offer, which can target multiple…
References
Cardoso, N. N., Alviano, C. S., Blank, A. F., Arrigoni-Blank, M. F., Romanos, M. T., Cunha, M. M., . . . Alviano, D. S. (2017). Anti-cryptococcal activity of ethanol crude extract and hexane fraction from Ocimum basilicum var. Maria bonita: mechanisms of action and synergism with amphotericin B and Ocimum basilicum essential oil. Pharmaceutical Biology, 55(1), 1380-1388. doi:10.1080/13880209.2017.1302483
Lee, S.-J., Umano, K., Shibamoto, T., & Lee, K.-G. (2005). Identification of volatile components in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and thyme leaves (Thymus vulgaris L.) and their antioxidant properties. Food Chemistry, 91(1), 131-137.
Zakaria, Z., Aziz, R., Lachimanan, Y. L., Sreenivasan, S., & Rathinam, X. (2008). Antioxidant activity of Coleus blumei, Orthosiphon stamineus, Ocimum basilicum and Mentha arvensis from Lamiaceae family. Int J Nat Eng Sci, 2(1), 93-95.