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Tulsi

Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)

Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)) is classified in Ayurveda as Kasa-Shvasahara (Anti-tussive/Anti-asthmatic), from the Lamiaceae family. Parts used: leaf, seed, root, whole plant. Revered as sacred plant in Hinduism. No dedicated WHO monograph identified.

Key facts
Botanical nameOcimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)
FamilyLamiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Ayurvedic categoryKasa-Shvasahara (Anti-tussive/Anti-asthmatic)
Pharmacopoeia statusNo dedicated WHO monograph identified. Listed in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Tulsi extracts comply with USP requirements for dietary supplement quality (microbial limits, heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxins, residual solvents). Recognized in multiple traditional medicine systems of Southeast Asia.
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2927100 · NCBI Taxonomy 204149

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2022 to 2024, every one with a DOI.

  • 5Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 7Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishTulsi
Common NamesHoly Basil, Sacred Basil
HindiTulsi
SanskritTulasi, Surasa
Latin/BotanicalOcimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum)

Parts Used

  • Leaf
  • Seed
  • Root
  • Whole plant

Dosha Effects

DoshaEffect
VataDecreases
KaphaDecreases
PittaMay Increase

Key Phytochemical Constituents

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

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: Reported in studies to induce 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 (linoleic and linolenic acid) destabilize microbial membranes by interfering with electron transport chain.
  • Adaptogenic: Modulates cortisol and stress markers such as 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 studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. 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.

Fresh leaves: 5-10 leaves/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%

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: 2 to 3 g dried leaf powder (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. II) twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh juice daily; 2-3 cups Tulsi tea; 300-600 mg standardized extract capsule twice daily

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

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

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

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 reviews5

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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

Laboratory and animal studies7

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Ranteh O, Tedasen A, Rahman MA and others. 2024. Bioactive compounds from Ocimum tenuiflorum and Poria cocos: A novel natural Compound for insomnia treatment based on A computational approachComputers in biology and medicine. PMID 38657467 · doi:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108491
  4. Pandiyan I, Arumugham MI, Doraikannan SS and others. 2023. Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum and Stevia rebaudiana-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles - An In vitro StudyContemporary clinical dentistry. PMID 37547431 · doi:10.4103/ccd.ccd_369_21
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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

Reference lists that include it

Oleanolic acid, Ursolic acid

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.