Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Holy Basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum

Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a plant used in Ayurveda. sanctum) contains eugenol, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, and ocimumosides. Eugenol is rapidly absorbed (Tmax ~1 hour) with moderate bioavailability. Rosmarinic acid shows ~1-2% bioavailability but significant first-pass metabolism.

Key facts
Botanical nameOcimum tenuiflorum
FamilyLamiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Also known asHoly Basil, HolyBasil
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2927100 · NCBI Taxonomy 204149

This entry and tulsi describe the same drug, Ocimum tenuiflorum, under different names. Both pages are kept because both names are in use; the other is treated as the primary record for citation.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishHoly_Basil

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Capsule, Tablet, Swarasa (fresh juice), Arka (distillate), Essential oil, Tea/infusion, Tincture, Soft gel

Standard Dosage: 300-600mg standardized extract twice daily; 3-5g dried leaf powder daily; 5-10ml fresh juice; 2-3 cups tea infusion daily

Bioavailability: Ocimum tenuiflorum (O. sanctum) contains eugenol, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, and ocimumosides. Eugenol is rapidly absorbed (Tmax ~1 hour) with moderate bioavailability. Rosmarinic acid shows ~1-2% bioavailability but significant first-pass metabolism. Ursolic acid has poor water solubility (~0.4% bioavailability); nanoformulations and phospholipid complexes can enhance absorption 5-10x. SNEDDS formulations improve terpenoid bioavailability.

Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach for adaptogenic effect; with meals for digestive support; as tea throughout the day

Standardized Extract: Ethanolic extract standardized to 2.5% ursolic acid; hydroalcoholic extract standardized to 1% eugenol and 2% rosmarinic acid; essential oil (eugenol chemotype) with >60% eugenol

Shelf Life: 2 years (dried powder); 3 years (standardized extract capsule/tablet); 2 years (essential oil); 1 year (fresh juice preparation)

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from light. Essential oil in amber glass, sealed tightly. Dried herb in airtight containers to preserve volatile content.

Marker Compounds: Eugenol, Rosmarinic acid, Ursolic acid, Oleanolic acid, Ocimumosides A and B, Apigenin, Luteolin, Beta-caryophyllene

Extraction Methods

  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (60:40 to 80:20 ethanol:water)
  • Steam distillation (essential oil, eugenol-rich)
  • Aqueous extraction (rosmarinic acid-rich)
  • Supercritical CO2 extraction (terpenoid-enriched fraction)
  • Standardized ethanolic extract (ursolic acid-enriched)

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Ashwagandha for adaptogenic and anti-stress synergy
  • With Brahmi for cognitive enhancement
  • With Guduchi for immune modulation
  • With Honey as traditional Anupana
  • With Pippali for respiratory support

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews6

  1. Patibandla S, Gallagher JJ, Patibandla L and others. 2024. Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines: A Literature Review of Their Applications in Female Reproductive HealthCureus. PMID 38558676 · doi:10.7759/cureus.55240
  2. Bhattarai K, Bhattarai R, Pandey RD and others. 2024. A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical Constituents and Bioactivities of Ocimum tenuiflorumTheScientificWorldJournal. PMID 39473808 · doi:10.1155/2024/8895039
  3. Jahanger MA, Patra KK, Kumari S and others. 2023. A Glance at the Phytochemical and Ethno-pharmacological Understanding of Four Ocimum SpeciesCurrent pharmaceutical biotechnology. PMID 36200220 · doi:10.2174/1389201023666221003102423
  4. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Metse AP and others. 2022. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) extract (Holixer(TM)) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stressFrontiers in nutrition. PMID 36185698 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965130
  5. Karpiński TM, Adamczak A, Ożarowski M. 2022. Radioprotective Effects of Plants from the Lamiaceae FamilyAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry. PMID 33121420 · doi:10.2174/1871520620666201029120147
  6. Baliga MS, Jimmy R, Thilakchand KR and others. 2013. Ocimum sanctum L (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and its phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancerNutrition and cancer. PMID 23682780 · doi:10.1080/01635581.2013.785010

Laboratory and animal studies6

  1. Yang J, Li J, Liu M and others. 2026. Primary Metabolites in Three Ocimum Species: Compositional Diversity, Network Pharmacology, and Integrin-Targeted Therapeutic ImplicationsLife (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 41752908 · doi:10.3390/life16020273
  2. Safiya S N, Varghese RM, S AK and others. 2024. Antifungal Activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum Herbal Formulation-Based Oral Rinse Against Candida albicansCureus. PMID 39290920 · doi:10.7759/cureus.67111
  3. Varghese RM, S AK, Shanmugam R. 2024. Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum Herbal FormulationsCureus. PMID 38550426 · doi:10.7759/cureus.54994
  4. C M MG, Murugan SK, Bethapudi B and others. 2023. Ocimum tenuiflorum extract (HOLIXERTM): Possible effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in modulating stressPloS one. PMID 37141281 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0285012
  5. Shivakumar VH, Tegginamani AS, Zain NM. 2022. Antimicrobial efficiency of Tinospora cordifolia and Ocimum tenuiflorum against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicansJournal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP. PMID 37082076 · doi:10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_68_22
  6. Srichok J, Yingbun N, Kowawisetsut T and others. 2022. Synergistic Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Ocimum tenuiflorum Ethanolic Extract against Major Bacterial Mastitis PathogensAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35453261 · doi:10.3390/antibiotics11040510

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