Abstract

PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND MEDICINAL USES OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM (TULSI)

Raykar Gayatri*, Pawar Vishakha, Pharate Gayatri and Vaidya Sakshi

Abstract

Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil), also called as Tulsi or Tulasi flowering plant of the mint family (Lamiacae) grown for its aromatic leaves. Tulsi is a native to the Indian subcontinent and grows throught Southeast Asia. The Tulasi plant is widely in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, often as an herbaltea for a variety of aliments and is considered sacred in Hinduism. It is also used as a culinary herb with a pungent flavor that intensifies with cooking. It is reminiscent of clove, Italian basil (Ocimum basilicum), and mint has a peppery spiciness. It is considered an Agriculture weed and an invasive species in some areas outside its native range. The predominant cause of global morbidity and mortality is lifestyle related chronic diseases, many of which can be addressed through Ayurveda with its focus on healthy lifestyle practices and regular consumption of adaptogenic herbs. All the herbs used within Ayurveda, tulsi is preeminent, and scientific research is now confirming its beneficial effects. There is mounting evidence that tulsi can address physica, chemical, metabolic and psysiological stress through a unique combination of pharmalogical actions. Tulsi has been found to protect organs and tissues against chemical stress from industrial pollutants and heavy metals, and physical stress from prolonged physical exertion, ischemia, physical restraintand exposure to cold and excessive noise. Cultivation of tulsi plants has both spiritual and practical significance that connects the grower to the creative powers of nature, and organic cultivation offers solutions for food security, rural poverty, hunger, environmental degradation and climate change. The use of tulsi in daily rituals is a treatment of Ayurvedic Wisdom and provides an example of ancient kno wledge offering solutions to modern problems.

Keywords: Ocimum tenuiflorum, Stress, Ayurveda, eugenol, Phytochemistry, Adaptogenic, Antioxident.