medicinal properties of ocimum sanctum

1. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
1
Shailendra shah
Department of pharmacy
.
School of Health and Allied Sciences
Pokhara University, Dhungepatan, Lekhnath, Kaski , Nepal

2. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Classification
 Biological sources
 Habitat
 Cultivation and collection
 Microscopic and macroscopic character
 Chemical constituents
 Pharmacological action
 Pharmacopoieal standard
 Commercial value
 Formulation
 References.

3. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Lameales
Genus : Ocimum
Species : O. tenuiflorum
Binomial name :Ocimum tenuiflorum/Ocimum
sanctum
Nepali name : Tulasi .
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4. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
The drug of tulsi consists
of fresh and dried
leaves and root.
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5. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 It is found widely in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world.
 Distributed throughout Nepal at about 1600 m
height .
 Native to Nepal, India , Iran and now
cultivated to Egypt , Morocco , France,
Hungary, USA etc.
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6. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Soil condition: Rich loam, poor laterite, alkaline to
moderately acidic soil.
 Climate: high rainfall and humid conditions, high
temperature have been found favourable for plant
growth and oil production.
 Propagation : through seeds.
 Planting time: nursery can be raised in February
and transplanting is done in April.
 Harvesting: at full bloom stage to obtain
maximium essential oil and better quality oil. First
harvest is done at 90-95 days of planting, then at
every 65-75 days interval, crop should be cut at 15-
20 cm above ground level.
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7. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Annual herb 30-60 cm high.
 Much branched stem with soft spreading hairs.
 Leaves are green to greenish brown, 2.5-7.5 cm
long, 1-3 cm wide, oblong, ovate or oval-
oblong, with acute top, obtuse to rounded base,
pinnate veins, serrate or entire and undulate
margin, thin but fleshy, both surfaces thinly
pubescent, petiole cylindrical, 1-2 cm long, base
obtuse or acute.
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8. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Flower : white purplish.
 Fruit : nutlet , fruiting throughout year.
 Color : brown
 Odor : characteristics
 Taste : bitter, slightly aromatic.
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9. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 outermost layer epidermis (EP) is composed of
tangentially elongated isodiametric cells and
covered by cuticle.
 Hypodermis is collenchymatous (Coll).
 Cortex (Co) is parenchymatous with air spaces.
 Vascular bundles are collateral and open.
 Xylem (Xy) is without tracheid with libriform
fibers.
 Pith (M) consists of lignified parenchymatous cells.
 Sclerenchyma and fibers at the end of the large
phloem vascular bundles.
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10. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Sclerenchymatou
s tissues
surround the
phloem group of
vascular bundles.
TS of leaf of O. sanctum
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11. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Essential oil from leaves of O. sanctum contains
α – thujene, Octane, Nonane, α –pinene, Lactate, β –
pinene, Toulene, Camphene, Sabinene, Dimethyl
benzene, Myrecene, ethyl benzene, Limocene, p-cymene,
Terpiniolene, Butyl benzene, α –cubebene, Linalool,
Eugenol, methyl eugenol, β – elemene, lactate, β –
caryophyllene, iso-eugenol, α – guaiene, α – amorphene,
α – humulene, α – terpeneol, α – selinene, α – murolene,
γ- humulene, isoborneol, Carvacrol, Borneol, β –
selinene, Cadinene, Calamene, Geraneol, Nerolidol,
Iedol, Elemol. [Dev et al, 2011] [Rahman et al,2011]
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12. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Alcoholic extract of aerial parts of O. sanctum have
been found to contain;
Urosolic acid, Apigenin, Luteolin, Isorientin, Orientin,
Molludistin, Stigmasterol, Triacontanol ferrulate,
Vitexin, Isovitexin, Aesculetin, Aesculin,
Chlorgenic acid, Galuteolin, Circineol, Gallic acid,
Procatechuic acid, Caffiec acid,Chlorgenic acid,
Cirsimaritin, Isothymucin, Rosamarinic acid.[Dev et
al. 2011] [Skaltsa S , Philians S, Singh M 1987]
 Fixed oil from seeds of O.sanctum contains;
Palmitric acid, Stearic acid, Linolenic acid, Oleic acid,
sitosterol, Hexourenic acid. [skaltsa H, Philians S, Singh M.
1987] [Singh et al. 2012]
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13. Pokhara University
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Carvacrol (Anticancer,
Antioxidant, Antibacterial,
Antiinsectidal).
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Methyl eugnolEugenol ( Antimicrobial,
Anticancer,
Antiinflamatory,
Antidiabetic,
Cardioprotective,
Hypolipidemic,
Hepatoprotective)

14. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
Orientin
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15. Pokhara University
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Apigenin
( Antioxidant, anti-
inflamatory)
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Cirsimarithin
(Cardioprotective, Anti-
Ulcer, Antistress.)
Rosmarinic acid
(Cardioprotective,
Antiulcer, Antistress)

16. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
Ursolic acid ( Antitumor,
Antimicrobial, Antiviral,
Hepatoprotective, Anti-
inflamatory, Antiulcer,
Antihyperlipidemic)
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Linalool
( Antibacterial,
Antiviral, antifungal,
Anticancer)
Caryophylline
( Anticancer,
Antioxidant,

17. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Tulsi is also known as “the elixir of life” since
it promotes the longevity.
 Different parts of plants are used in Ayurveda
and Siddha systems of medicine for prevention
and cure of many illness and everyday
aliments like common cold, headache, fever,
cough, influenza, earache, colic pain, sore
throat, bronchitis, asthma, hepatic disease,
malarial fever, as an antidote for snake and
scorpion bite, flatulence, migraine headache,
fatigue, skin disease, wound, insomnia,
arthritis, digestive disorder, night blindness
and diarrhoea.
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18. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Chewing of tulsi leaves also cures ulcers and
infection of mouth. [Prajapati N.D., Purohit S.S., Sharma A.K. and
Kumar T.A. Handbook of medicinal plant. Agrobiosis, India, 2003; pp 367.]
 A few dropped in drinking water or food stuff
can purify it and can kill germs in it.
 Holy basil is so good for boosting up the
immune system.
 It protects from nearly all sorts of infections
from viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
 Recent studies shows that it is also helpful in
inhibiting the growth of HIV and carcinogenic
cells. [Kumar et al. Pharmacological action of Ocimum sanctum- review article. Int
J Adv Pharm BioI Chem. 2012;1:406-414].
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19. Pokhara University
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Anti-microbial activity
 Ethanolic, methanolic and organic solvents
extracts of Ocimum sanctum L. shows wide
zones of inhibition against E. coli,
Stayphylococci sp., Shigella sp.,
Stayphylococcus aureus and enterobacteria sp.
[Rahman MS, Khan MMH, Jamal MAHM. 2010].
 Ocimum sanctum also acts against Pseudomonas
aernginosa, Stayphylococci sp., Salmonella typhi,
Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus, Candida albicans,
Mycobactrium tuberculosis and Micrococcus
pyogenes. [Mishra P, Mishra S , 2011] [ Farivar et al, 2006].
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20. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Essential oil of tulsi was tested on Altemaria
solani, Candida guillermondii, Colletotricum
capsici, Curvularia sp. , Fusarium solani,
Helminthosporium oryzae, it showed positive
results.
 Essential oil and eugenol were found
efficacious in checking growth of Aspergillus
flavus. [ Marja et al. 1999]
 Ocimum sanctum essential oil and eugenol can
be used as plant based safe preservatives
against fungal spoilage of food stuff during
storge. [Khan et al, 2010].
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21. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Eugenol, cirsilineol, isothymucin, apigenin,
rosmarinic acid , orientin and vicenin have
been shown to possess potent antioxidant
activities ( cyclooxygenase inhibitory) activity.
 Oral feeding of Os provides significant liver
and aortic tissue protection from
hypercholesterolemia induced peroxidative
damage. [Geetha RK, Vasudevan DM, 2004].
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22. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Oral administration of Ocimum sanctum L. extract
led to marked lowering of blood sugar in glucose
fed hyperglycemic and streptozotocin induced
diabetic rats . [ Chattopadhyay RR,1993]
 The constituents of Ocimum sanctum L. leaf
extracts have stimulatory effects on physiological
pathways of insulin secretion which may underlie
reported antidiabetic action. [Hannan et al, 2006].
 Ocimum sanctum decrease the serum
concentration of both cortisol and glucose and also
exhibited antiperoxidative effect. Therefore it may
potentially regulate corticosteroid induced diabetic
mellitus. [ Gholap S. Kar A, 2004]
.
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23. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Ocimum sanctum L. leaves when feed to
experimental rats for ten weeks significantly
reduced the squamous cell carcinoma and
hematoma incidences. [ Aruna K, Sivaramakrishnan VM, 1992]
 Alcoholic extracts of Os act on activities of
cytochrome p-450, cytochrome b5 and aryl
hydrocarbon hydroxylase in liver and
glutathione-S-transferase(GST) and a reduced
glutathione level in liver lung. All these
enzymes and cofactor play an important role in
detoxification of carcinogens and mutagens.
[Banerjee et al, 1996].
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24. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 30 day lethality studies in swiss albino mice were
carried out following treatment with single graded
doses of aqueous and ethanolic extract from dried
leaves of Os and it was found that aqueous extract
was more effective in increasing survival
compared with ethanolic extract.[Ganasoundari A, Umadevi P,
Rao MN, 1997]
 Flavonoids, orientin and vicenin were found to be
equally effective in rendering protection against
gamma radiation induced lipid peroxidation in
mouse liver. These compounds also significantly
inhibited the fenton reaction induced OH radical
activity under in vitro conditions. [ Devi et al, 1999]
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25. Pokhara University
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 Anti peroxidative effect of Ocimum sanctum
was attributed to increased level of cellular
antioxidants such as reduced glutathione
(GSH), GSH-peroxidase and reductase as well
as superoxide dismutase. Aqueous extracts of
leaves of Os significantly inhibited the OH
radical induced deoxyribose degeneration.
[ Ganasoundari A, Zare SM, Umadevi P, 1997]
 A combination of WR-2721 and Os extract
produced a significantly higher inhibition of
OH radical activity compared with either agent
individually. [Ganasoundari A, Umadevi P, Rao BSS, 1998]
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26. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Ocimum sanctum leaf extract possesses the
protective effect against Cr Hg induced genetic
damage. [ Babu k, Uma MKC, 2006]
 Os extract treated human lymphocyte culture
could reduce experimentally induced mitotic
index , sister chromatid exchange and
replication index in a dose development
manner. [Siddique et al, 2006]
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27. Pokhara University
School of Health and Allied Sciences
 Ethanolic extract of Os was investigated for
normal wound healing and dexamethasone
depressed healing using incision, excision and
dead space wound models in albino rats. The
extract significantly increased the wound
breaking strength in incision wound model.
The extract treated wounds were found to be
epithelialize faster and the rate of wound
contraction was significantly increased as
compared to control wounds.
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28. Pokhara University
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 Leaves of Os are said to have abortifacient
effect in women.
 Benzene and petroleum extract of Os leaves
have been reported to produce 60-80% of
antifertility in female rats. Os in male rats
showed increased total sperm count, sperm
motility and weight of testis.
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29. Pokhara University
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 Os showed anti-ulcelcer activity in rats. The
fixed oil of Os administered intraperitoneally
elicited significant antiulcer activity against
aspirin, indomethacin, alcohol (ethanol 50%) ,
histamine, reserpine, serotonin, or stress
induced ulcer in rats. The fixed oil significantly
possessed antiulcer activity due to its
lipoxygenase inhibitory, histamine antagonistic
and antisecretory effects. [Govind P, Madhuri s, 2006]
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30. Pokhara University
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 Os showed response to immune effect. Steam
distilled extract from the fresh leaves of Os showed
modification in the humoral immune response in
albino rats which could be atributed to antibody
production, release of mediators of
hypersensitivity reactions and tissues responses to
mediators in the target organs.
 Os supplementation showed of humoral
immunogenic response as represented by an
increase in antibody titer in both widal and sheep
erythrocyte agglutination test as well as by cellular
immunologic response represented by rosette
formation and lymphocytosis.[Godhwani et al, 1988]
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31. Pokhara University
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 Sridevi et al showed potent benefits of Os in
treatment of asthma and related conditions.
The findings from various studies reveal that
the antihistaminic and antianaphylactic activity
of Os extract which is mainly due to its mast
cell stabilizing potential, suppression of IgE
and inhibition of release of inflammatory
mediators.
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32. Pokhara University
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 Os, a medicinal herb that widely claimed to
posses antistressor activity and used
extensively in the Indian system of medicine
for a variety of disorders, Administration of the
70% ethanolic extract of Os normalizes the
alteration in neurotransmitter levels due to
noise stress, emphasizing the antistressor
potential of this plant. [Ravindran et al, 2005].
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33. Pokhara University
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 Os leaves decrease serum lipid profile in
normal and diabetic animals. Essential oil
extracted from Os leaves has lipid lowering
activity against hypercholesterolemia. Aqueous
extract decreased LPO formation and increased
antioxidant enzymes in plasma and rat liver,
lung, kidney and brain. [Hussian et al, 2001].
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34. Pokhara University
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 Essential oil of Os showed potent anti-
helmenthic activity. Eugenol being the
predominant component of the essential oil is
suggested as the anti- helmenthic principle. [Asha
et al, 2001].
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35. Pokhara University
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 Different extracts of stem, leaf of Os were tested
for anticonvulsant activity by maximal
electroshock model using phenytoin as standard.
It was observed that ethanol and chloroform
extract of leaf and stem were effective in
preventing toxic convulsions induced by trans
corneal electroshock. [ Jaggi RK, Madaan R, Singh B, 2003].
 Os fixed oil (2-3 ml/kg) has been reported to
show anticonvulsing property in pentobarbitone
induced rats. [Singh S, Rehan HM, Majumdar DK, 2001].
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36. Pokhara University
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 Os has cardioprotective activity. Os can act as
cardio protective agent against myocardial agents.
Long term feeding of Os offers significant
protection against isoproterenol- induced
myocardial necrosis in wistar rats through
enhancement of endogenous antioxidant activity.
[Sood et al, 2010]
 Urosolic acid isolated from Os showed protection
against Adriamycin induced lipid peroxidation.
Protection with urosolic acid was 13 and 17% in
liver and heart microsome respectively. [Balanehru S,
Nagarajan B, 1992]
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37. Pokhara University
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 Alcoholic extract of Os ameliorated the amnesic
effect of scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg) and aging
induced memory deficits in mice. Os extract
increased step-down latency and
acetylcholinesterase inhibition significantly.
Hence Os can be employed in the treatment of
cognitive disorders such as dementia and
alzheimer disease. [ Joshi H, Parle M, 2006].
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38. Pokhara University
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 Anti-arthritic activity of Os fixed oil was evaluated
against formaldehyde induced arthritis in rats.
Fixed oil significantly reduced the diameter of
inflamed paw. Intraperitoneal administration of the
fixed oil daily for 10 days, improved the arthritic
condition in rats. Fixed oil inhibited carrageenan
and inflammatory mediators induced inflammation.
These results suggests anti-arthritic activity of the
inflammation models including adjuvants as well as
turpentine oil induced joint oedema in rats. [Singh S,
Majumdar DK, Rehan HMS, 1996].
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39. Pokhara University
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 Os leaf exhibited anti-thyroid and anti-
oxidative properties. The effects of Os leaf
extract on the changes in the concentration of
serum T3, T4 were investigated in the male
mouse. [Panda S, Kar A, 1998].
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40. Pokhara University
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 Anti-pyretic activity of Os fixed oil was
evaluated by testing it against typhoid-
paratyphoid A/B vaccine induced pyrexia in
rats. The fixed oil possessed prostaglandin
inhibitory activity and the same could explain
its antipyretic activity. [Singh S, Taneja M, Majumdar DK, 2007].
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41. Pokhara University
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 Os showed antidote activity to many poisons.
Os can be used antidote for dogbite, scorpion
bite, snake bite and insect bites. [komal S, Verma RJ, 2012] [
Godhwani S, Godhwani JL, Vyas DS, 1988].
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42. Pokhara University
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Total ash: NMT 16%
Sulfated ash: NMT 20%
Acid insoluble ash : NMT 6%
Alcohol soluble extractive: NMT 1%
Volatile oil: NMT 0.4% v/w
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43. Pokhara University
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Leaf infusion 2-12 ml.
Leaf decoction 28-56 ml.
Seed powder 1.5-2 g.
Leaf juice 5-10 ml.
Tulsi capsule.
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44. Pokhara University
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 URL-1 medicinal plant in Himalayan region
Nepal, LN Neupane April 28,2016. ( Accessed
on July 21,2018).
 Siva M. , Shanmugam B. , Venkata Subbaiah
G. , Ravi S. , Sathyavelu Reddy K. ,
Mallikarjuna K. Ocimum sanctum: a review on
pharmacological properties, International
Journal on the pharmacological properties, vol
5, issue 3 PP 558-565.
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45. Pokhara University
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Pharmaceutical Seminar 5 45