Tulsi

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Tulsi
Common Names	Holy Basil, Sacred Basil
Hindi	Tulsi
Sanskrit	Tulasi, Surasa
Latin/Botanical	Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)

Parts Used

• Leaf
• Seed
• Root
• Whole plant

Dosha Effects

Dosha	Effect
Vata	Decreases
Kapha	Decreases
Pitta	May Increase

Key Phytochemical Constituents

• Eugenol
• Ursolic acid
• Rosmarinic acid
• Linalool
• Ocimumosides A & B

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

• Antimicrobial
• Adaptogen
• Anti-inflammatory
• Immunomodulator
• Expectorant
• Antipyretic
• Antioxidant

How does it work?

• Active compounds: Over 100 distinct compounds including eugenol, rosmarinic acid, various flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and fatty acid derivatives.
• NF-kB inhibition and Nrf2 activation: Provides potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses.
• Cancer pathways: Induces apoptosis via mitochondrial and PI3K/AKT pathways.
• Metabolic regulation: Modulates glucose and lipid metabolism through AMPK activation and HMG-CoA reductase inhibition.
• Multi-pathway pharmacology: Alters functionality of NF-kB, ERK, p38, and MAPK pathways.
• Antimicrobial: Unsaturated fatty acids (linolic and linoleic acid) destabilize microbial membranes by interfering with electron transport chain.
• Adaptogenic: Modulates cortisol and stress-response hormones including salivary amylase.
• Antiviral: Eugenol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interaction with ACE2.

How is it used traditionally?

Revered as sacred plant in Hinduism. Used for Kasa (cough), Shwasa (asthma), Jwara (fever), Krimi (parasites), and Vishahara (detoxification).

Where is it described in the classical texts?

• Charaka Samhita
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Pushpa Varga)
• Dhanvantari Nighantu

What do recent clinical trials show?

• 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 stress. Frontiers in nutrition. PMID 36185698 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965130
  8-week supplementation reduced objective and subjective stress measures; significantly lower hair cortisol, salivary cortisol, salivary amylase, and blood pressure vs placebo. Improved insomnia scores with good tolerability.
• Arya R, Faruquee HM, Shakya H and others 2024. Harnessing the Antibacterial, Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Carcinogenic Properties of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi). Plants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39771214 · doi:10.3390/plants13243516
  Comprehensive review of over 100 distinct phytochemicals in tulsi; confirmed antibacterial, anti-diabetic, and anti-carcinogenic properties with detailed molecular pathway analysis.
• Paidi RK, Jana M, Raha S and others 2021. Eugenol, a Component of Holy Basil (Tulsi) and Common Spice Clove, Inhibits the Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 and ACE2 to Induce Therapeutic Responses. Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology. PMID 34677731 · doi:10.1007/s11481-021-10028-1
  Eugenol, a key tulsi compound, demonstrated ability to inhibit the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein and ACE2 receptor, suggesting antiviral therapeutic potential.

1 further claim previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and has been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

• Appears safe for up to 8 weeks of oral use; long-term safety (>8 weeks) not adequately studied.
• Anticoagulant interaction: May slow blood clotting; increased bleeding risk with aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, heparin, enoxaparin, and similar drugs.
• Sedative potentiation: Holy basil seed oil with pentobarbital may cause excessive drowsiness.
• Hypoglycemia risk: May lower blood sugar; caution with insulin and sulfonylureas.
• Blood pressure: May lower blood pressure; monitor for hypotension-related symptoms.
• Thyroid effects: May decrease thyroxine levels; could worsen hypothyroidism.
• Pregnancy/fertility: Not safe in pregnancy; animal studies showed reduced implantation of fertilized eggs at large doses.
• Surgery precaution: Stop use at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery due to bleeding risk.
• No significant safety issues noted in traditional use accounts.

Recommended Dosage

Fresh leaves: 5-10 leaves/day; Dried powder: 1-3g/day; Extract: 300-600mg/day

Safety, contraindications and cautions

• May reduce fertility (high doses)
• Anticoagulant interaction
• Pre-surgery (stop 2 weeks before)

What is it made of?

Part(s) Analyzed: Leaf, Whole herb

Phenylpropanoids

• Eugenol (40-70% of essential oil)
• Methyl eugenol
• Rosmarinic acid (2-5%)

Terpenoids

• Ursolic acid (1-3%)
• Oleanolic acid
• Beta-caryophyllene
• Linalool

Flavonoids

• Orientin
• Vicenin
• Apigenin
• Luteolin
• Cirsilineol
• Isothymusin

Essential Oil Composition

• Eugenol: 40-70%
• Beta-caryophyllene: 5-15%
• Linalool: 3-8%
• Methyl eugenol: 2-10%
• 1,8-Cineole: 2-5%
• Camphor: 1-3%

Analytical Methods: GC-MS (essential oil), HPLC-PDA (phenolics), TLC

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Svarasa (fresh juice), Kwatha (decoction/tea), Capsule, Tablet, Essential oil, Ark (distillate), Tincture, Drops, Syrup

Standard Dosage: 3-5 g dried leaf powder twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh juice daily; 2-3 cups Tulsi tea; 300-600 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily

Bioavailability: Eugenol (primary volatile) has good oral bioavailability (~45-55%) with Tmax of 30-60 minutes. Rosmarinic acid shows moderate bioavailability (~15-20%) limited by esterase hydrolysis and Phase II conjugation. Ursolic acid has very low oral bioavailability (<5%) due to extreme lipophilicity; phospholipid complexation (phytosome) improves this 3-5 fold. Ocimumosides A and B are moderately absorbed. Fresh juice provides highest bioavailability of water-soluble phenolics.

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

Standardized Extract: Hydroethanolic extract standardized to >2.5% ursolic acid and >1% rosmarinic acid by HPLC; essential oil standardized to >50% eugenol by GC-FID

Shelf Life: Dried leaf: 12 months; Powder: 12-18 months; Essential oil: 24-36 months; Capsules/Tablets: 24-36 months; Fresh juice: 48 hours refrigerated; Tincture: 36-48 months

Storage: Airtight, light-resistant containers at 15-25 deg C. Essential oil in amber glass under nitrogen. Fresh leaves in perforated bags at 4-8 deg C for up to 5 days.

Marker Compounds: Eugenol, Methyl eugenol, Rosmarinic acid, Ursolic acid, Oleanolic acid, Ocimumosides A, Ocimumosides B, beta-Caryophyllene, Linalool, Apigenin, Luteolin, Orientin, Vicenin

Extraction Methods

• Steam distillation for essential oil
• Hydroethanolic extraction (50-70% ethanol)
• Aqueous infusion/decoction
• Supercritical CO2 extraction for eugenol-rich fraction
• Spray drying of aqueous extract
• Cold pressing of fresh leaves

Synergistic Combinations

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) - adaptogenic synergy for stress
• Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) - cognitive enhancement combination
• Shunthi (ginger) + Tulsi - respiratory and immune synergy
• Honey as anupana - enhances Kapha-reducing action
• Yashtimadhu (licorice) - soothing respiratory combination