Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Applications of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi)

Abstract

Ocimum sanctum, an aromatic and medicinal herb, has gained a special importance for its pharmacological potential since time immemorial. The meaning of tulsi in Sanskrit is “Matchless” and called as queen of all the herbs. O. sanctum is well known for its religious, spiritual, and cultural sanctity. OS tastes pungent and bitter. Its effect is hot, light, and dry. The root, leaves, and seed of OS possess several medicinal values. Cultivation of tulsi is widely done for its uses in pharmaceutical industry, perfumery, cosmetics industry, and indigenous systems of medicine. Treatment of the several ailments has been successfully performed from the time of Ayurveda. Ayurveda classifies OS as stimulant, aromatic, and antipyretic herbs; it shows activity by alleviating kapha and vata while aggravating pitta. The special attention has been given to essential oils along with herbal extract in scientific research due to their extraordinary potential in pharmacology, aromatic flavors, and extensive traditional practice. These phytochemicals are discovered from a different class of plant secondary metabolites, namely, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, coumarins, tannins, terpenoids, essential oils, fixed oils, and steroids as well as some vitamins and minerals. A plethora of pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, free radical scavenger, anti-diabetic, antileishmanicidal, central nervous system (CNS) depressant, anticoagulant, ulcer protective, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, cardioprotective, antiasthmatic, immunomodulatory, antifertility, antiulcer, antiviral, and antimicrobial activity have been reported for OS. The different study suggests OS have no toxic effect in humans; peoples are using its leaf and stem from traditional periods of time, so OS is safe for the treatment of diseases directly as herbal medicine or as a nutraceutical for prevention of diseases. The information and data regarding traditional uses, major chemical constituents, pharmacological potentials, clinical study, and marketed formulation of tulsi have been well explored and noted in this chapter.