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We updated the existing FAQs based on the most current research, including the potential benefits of holy basil, how it works, its drawbacks, and its traditional uses.
Tulsi
•Last Updated: April 10, 2024
Tulsi (also known as holy basil) is an aromatic plant with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. While research is limited, preliminary studies have found benefits for gingivitis, metabolic health, and symptoms of stress.
Tulsi is most often used for
Last Updated:April 10, 2024
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), an aromatic plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that is native to India and Southeast Asia, is rich in various bioactive phytochemicals, including rosmarinic acid, apigenin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and eugenol; it is primarily used as a medicinal herb. Despite its long history in traditional medicine, clinical research on its medicinal applications remains limited.
Tulsi is believed to have various health benefits, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic properties, and some preliminary evidence suggests improvements in periodontal health and metabolic markers. However, research in humans is limited and often lacks rigorous methodology, which makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about its efficacy.
Tulsi is generally considered safe for short-term use, but common side effects include nausea and diarrhea. There are concerns about its safety during pregnancy because animal studies have shown potential negative effects on fertility and fetal development, although the dosages used in those studies were much higher than in typical human consumption.
Tulsi contains various bioactive compounds that may offer health benefits through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood and require further research. Its anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to the inhibition of specific enzymes, and it may also influence the stress response and improve glucose metabolism.
Note that Tulsi is also known as:
- Ocimum sanctum
- Green Tulsi
- Sacred Basil
- Ocimum tenuiflorum
- Holy basil
Tulsi should not be confused with:
- Thai Basil (a table spice)
- Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil)
Clinical trials have used water or alcohol extracts of tulsi leaves most consistently, although all parts of the plant have been used in a variety of ways. The types of active compounds in tulsi can vary depending on the part of the plant used, the extraction methods, and the growing and harvesting conditions.[1]
Studies have reported beneficial effects of tulsi (aqueous leaf extract) taken orally at dosages ranging from 300 mg to 3,000 mg daily. Currently, there’s not enough evidence to determine what an optimal dose or formulation might be, and this information has often been poorly defined in studies. For example, studies providing “30 drops of tulsi extract” with no further details are not uncommon.[2]
For oral use in periodontal disease, gels or mouth rinses containing 2% to 4% tulsi appear effective.[3][4]
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- ^Beltrán-Noboa A, Jordan-Álvarez A, Guevara-Terán M, Gallo B, Berrueta LA, Giampieri F, Battino M, Álvarez-Suarez JM, Tejera EExploring the Chemistry of Species under Specific Extractions and Chromatographic Methods: A Systematic Review.ACS Omega.(2023-Mar-28)
- ^Jamshidi N, Cohen MMThe Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2017)
- ^Deepika BA, Ramamurthy JEffect of as LDD in periodontal therapy.Bioinformation.(2023)
- ^Deepika BA, Ramamurthy J, Jayakumar ND, Rajesh Kumar SComparative clinical data for gingivitis treatment using gels from (Tulsi) and chlorhexidine (CHX).Bioinformation.(2021)
- ^Dharsono HDA, Putri SA, Kurnia D, Dudi D, Satari MHSpecies: A Review on Chemical Constituents and Antibacterial Activity.Molecules.(2022-Sep-26)
- ^Mallikarjun S, Rao A, Rajesh G, Shenoy R, Pai MAntimicrobial efficacy of Tulsi leaf (Ocimum sanctum) extract on periodontal pathogens: An in vitro study.J Indian Soc Periodontol.(2016)
- ^Jayanti I, Jalaluddin M, Avijeeta A, Ramanna PK, Rai PM, Nair RAAntimicrobial Activity of (Tulsi) Extract on and .J Contemp Dent Pract.(2018-Apr-01)
- ^Gupta D, Bhaskar DJ, Gupta RK, Karim B, Jain A, Singh R, Karim WA randomized controlled clinical trial of Ocimum sanctum and chlorhexidine mouthwash on dental plaque and gingival inflammation.J Ayurveda Integr Med.(2014-Apr)
- ^Penmetsa GS, Pitta SREfficacy of , and chlorhexidine mouthwash on gingivitis: A randomized controlled comparative clinical study.Ayu.(2019)
- ^Nadar BG, Usha GV, Lakshminarayan NComparative Evaluation of Efficacy of 4% Tulsi Extract (), Fluoridated and Placebo Dentifrices against Gingivitis and Plaque among 14-15 years School Children in Davangere City, India - A Triple Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial.Contemp Clin Dent.(2020)
- ^Dineshkumar B, Analava M, Manjunatha MAntidiabetic and hypolipidaemic effects of few common plants extract in Type 2 diabetic patients at BengalInt J Diabetes Metab.(2010 Feb)
- ^P Agrawal, V Rai, R B SinghRandomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitusInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther.(1996 Sep)
- ^Sampath S, Mahapatra SC, Padhi MM, Sharma R, Talwar AHoly basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract enhances specific cognitive parameters in healthy adult volunteers: A placebo controlled study.Indian J Physiol Pharmacol.(2015)
- ^Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Metse AP, Drummond PDA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an (Holy Basil) extract (Holixer) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress.Front Nutr.(2022)
- ^Saxena RC, Singh R, Kumar P, Negi MP, Saxena VS, Geetharani P, Allan JJ, Venkateshwarlu KEfficacy of an Extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the Management of General Stress: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
- ^D Bhattacharyya, T K Sur, U Jana, P K DebnathControlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disordersNepal Med Coll J.(2008 Sep)
- ^Mondal S, Varma S, Bamola VD, Naik SN, Mirdha BR, Padhi MM, Mehta N, Mahapatra SCDouble-blinded randomized controlled trial for immunomodulatory effects of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract on healthy volunteersJ Ethnopharmacol.(2011 Jul 14)
- ^Sethi J, Yadav M, Sood S, Dahiya K, Singh VEffect of tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum Linn.) on sperm count and reproductive hormones in male albino rabbits.Int J Ayurveda Res.(2010-Oct)
- ^Venkataramanaiah Poli, Changamma ChallaA comparative study of eugenol and Ocimum sanctum Linn. leaf extract on the antifertility effect in female albino ratsJ Chin Med Assoc.(2019 Mar)
- ^Poli V, Srinivasulu MThe Potential role of Eugenol and Ocimum sanctum extract on female rats: a focus on infertility efficacyIraq Med J.(2020 Dec)
- ^Srinivas N, Sali K, Bajoria ATherapeutic aspects of Tulsi unraveled: A reviewJ Indian Acad Oral Med Radiol.(2016 Aug)
- ^Marc Maurice CohenTulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasonsJ Ayurveda Integr Med.(2014 Oct-Dec)
- Natural Killer Cell Content - Mondal S, Varma S, Bamola VD, Naik SN, Mirdha BR, Padhi MM, Mehta N, Mahapatra SCDouble-blinded randomized controlled trial for immunomodulatory effects of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract on healthy volunteersJ Ethnopharmacol.(2011 Jul 14)
- Blood glucose - P Agrawal, V Rai, R B SinghRandomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitusInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther.(1996 Sep)
- Anxiety Symptoms - D Bhattacharyya, T K Sur, U Jana, P K DebnathControlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disordersNepal Med Coll J.(2008 Sep)
- Oral Lichen Planus Symptoms - Srivastava R, Sarkar S, Gupta P, Pradhan D, Bagde H, Dhopte AEfficacy of Topical Turmeric, Calendula officinalis, and Tulsi (Ayurvedic Gel) in the Management of Erosive Lichen Planus: A Placebo-Controlled Study.J Pharm Bioallied Sci.(2024 Feb)