Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES, CLINICAL EFFICACY, AND SAFETY PROFILE OF OCCIMUM BASILICUM IN HUMANS: A REVIEW

Nageswar Panda, Annanya Gangopadhyay*, Sivangani Sahu, Aman Kumar, Hrushikesh Panda and Malay Ranjan Das

ABSTRACT

Plants are one of the most important sources of pharmaceuticals. Ocimum basilicum Linn. (O. basilicum) is one such plant that embodies all that is wonderful in nature since the entire plant has been used as traditional medicine as a home remedy against many human ailments since antiquity. Since ancient times, the genus O. basilicum has contained a wide range of plants that have been used to treat a wide range of maladies and disorders. Because of its medicinal potential, O. basilicum is significant in this genus. Although it is native to Asia, it is commonly grown as a herbaceous, perennial plant. O. basilicum is a culinary plant with pharmacological qualities that aid in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, menstrual cramps, digestive issues, neurological illnesses, and cancer. This study aims to undertake a literature review of O. basilicum concentrating on its chemical properties, medical benefits, and scientific studies. This review comprises all works on O. basilicum identified by the authors after a thorough search of major computerized medical databases. According to a preliminary study, several components of O. basilicum have therapeutic effects. These findings are quite encouraging and indicate that this treatment should be explored further in order to verify these findings and identify other potential therapeutic effects. The vital goal of this review is to provide a pharmacological perspective on O. basilicum.

Keywords: Ocimum basilicum, Phytochemicals, Chemopreventive properties, Physicochemical properties.