Holy basil

Overview

O. tenuiflorum is a herb primarily native to the tropical and subtropical Asia  including the Himalayas, Malaysia, and other tropical and subtropical parts of Asia. One of the most sacred plants in India, where it has been cultivated for over three thousand years and is still widely grown around homes and temples for its protective influence.

Vernacular Names

Ruku-ruku (Indonesia), Oku (Malaysia), Loko-loko (Tagalog-Philippines), Kaphrao (Thailand), Hương nhu tía (Vietnamese), Saph'au (Laos), Mrèah prëu (Cambodian), Sheng luo le (Chinese), Tulsi (India).

Agroecology

A plant of the moist to wet, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 m. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20-28 °C. Prefers a rich, light, well-drained to dry soil and a position in full sun. Naturalized in waste places or in settled areas and thickets.

Morphology

• Root - taproot.
• Stems - aromatic, 30-60(-100) cm tall with stem woody at base and an indumentum of patent hairs.
• Leaves - decussately opposite; petiole 0.5-2.5 cm long; blade  blades elliptic to elliptic-oblon, 1.5-6 cm × 1-2.5 cm, margin remotely serrate, pubescent.
• Flowers - racemose, 8-10 cm long, consisting of opposite 3-flowered cymes appearing as verticils, lax; flowers 3 mm long, pink or white.
• Fruits - consisting of 4 nutlets, green to brown, surrounded by the persistent calyx on a spreading pedicel 3-4 mm long.

Cultivation

Propagated by its small and numerous seeds, and grows rapidly. It is not difficult to uproot, can grow more strongly after pruning and cause trouble to places where it is weedy.

Chemical Constituents

Essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic, eugenol, carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenylpropanoids, fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic), limatrol, decyladehyde, cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The plant is pungently aromatic, warming and antiseptic. It induces perspiration, lowers fevers, relaxes spasms, eases pain, clears bacterial infections, strengthens the immune and nervous systems, reduces inflammations, and benefits the digestive system.
• Research has shown that the herb has the ability to lower blood sugar levels.
• The essential oils from the leaf have shown antibacterial and antifungal activities.
• The plant is used internally in the treatment of feverish illnesses (especially in children), colds, influenza, sinusitis, headaches, rheumatism, arthritis, digestive disorders, including abdominal distension and cramps.
• The juice of the plants is used to treat insect bites and ringworm and dropped into the ear to treat earaches.
• The seeds are used as a tonic.
• The herb is used externally as an antiseptic to treat skin infections, spots etc.
• In Indonesia a decoction of the leaves is used to treat colds in children, to heal wounds and to promote lactation in women.
• In Philippines it is used against gonorrhoea and in Malaysia against rheumatism.