Article: A BRIEF REVIEW ON TULSI: A HOLY PLANT WITH HIGH MEDICINAL VALUES AND THERAPEUTIC USES

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.130372

Pages: 118-125

Author: Latesh Y. Chaudhari *, Saurabh P. Chaudhari, Ghanshyam M. Chavan

Abstract: This is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae, and the botanical name is Ocimum Sanctum. Tulsi is widely used for its various healing properties and is called a ‘queen of the herb’. All the parts of the plant are helpful, including leaves and seeds. The Incomparable One and the mother of natural medicine are the other names of Tulsi. Tulsi is available in India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Southwest Asia, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. The plant is an erect, much-branched subshrub, 30-60cm tall, with hairy stems and simple, green leaves that are strongly scented. It is native globally tropics and widely cultivated for its medicinal value. In the traditional system of medicine, different parts of Tulsi have been recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery, skin diseases, eye diseases, arthritis, insect bites, and so on. Pharmacological actions like anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimalarial, antimicrobial, and anti-fertility are present in the Aromatic plant. These activities may be attributed mainly to phytochemicals like eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, methyl chavicol, linalool, etc.

Keyword: Tulsi, Ocimum Sanctum, Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Activity.