Health benefits of basil leaves

Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

   Basil is an aromatic herb of the mint family ,with a pungent clove like flavor. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae and genus ocimum. It is known by different names depending on the geographical region of its cultivation. In the English language, it is known as basil, common basil or sweet basil.

 In India it is called babui tulsi. Other common names of basil are basilica (in French), basilikum or basilienkraut (in German), ba-silico (in Italian), rehan (in Arabic) and alba-haca (in Spanish). In Arabic, it is known as hebak as well as rihan.

  Its origin dates back to the  period of Greek mythology. In ancient Egypt, basil  has been used in combination with other essences and oils, during religious ceremonies and for mummification. Basil or Ocimum. basilicum was introduced in England in the sixteenth century.

  Basil leaves are glossy and oval-shaped, with smooth or slightly toothed edges that typically cup slightly; the leaves are arranged oppositely along the square stems. Various species of basil are used in commerce, including the small-leaf common basil, the larger leaf Italian basil, and the large lettuce-leaf basil. Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora) and the related holy basil (O. tenuiflorum) and lemon basil (O. citriodorum) are common in Asian cuisine.

Of late basil leaves have gained great significance as a herb having medicinal properties and health benefits. Research is ongoing to understand its role in various inflammatory diseases.

Nutritional facts & medicinal properties

   Basil leaves are rich sources of vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and beta carotene. There are various uses of this herb in food and medicine. It is used as a  flavoring agent in various cuisines world wide. It is used  in medicine for treating cough related syndrome, and also is used in cosmetics.

 O. basilicum is widely used in medicine and for culinary and perfumery purposes all over the Europe, particularly in France. The leaves and the essential oil distilled from the flowering plants are used as powerful flavoring agents. Their oil possesses various functions like antimicrobial activity, anticancer activity, and also anti-inflammatory activities [3].

There are various compounds present in the oil of basil leaves such as oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. They also contain various components like linalool, camphor, and germacrene D.

 Basil leaves are helpful in sharpening memory. Basil is also useful in treatment of fever, common cold, stress, purifying blood. It also helps in reducing blood glucose, risk of heart attacks and cholesterol level, mouth ulcer and arthritis.

Health benefits

·       Antioxidant properties

     Vitamin A ,C and beta carotenes are effective antioxidants  which help the body fight against free radicals. Ocimum basilicum or sweet basil contains more than 20 bioactive compounds such as linalool, estragole, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, etc.  Flavonoids, catechins, and triterpenes showed protective effect on oxidative stress induced by environmental factors. These antioxidants of basil leaves protect against oxidative stress induced diseases to vital organs.

·       Anti-inflammatory properties

A 2017 study shows that basil leaves contain essential oils having anti-inflammatory properties[4].Anti inflammatory role of this herb has significant impact in the management of various rheumatic and arthritic disorders of joints and inflammatory disorders of lungs.

·       Improves bone and muscle health

Calcium  phosphorus and magnesium  in basil leaves can strengthen your bones and muscles.

·       Helps to reduce LDL cholesterol  and triglycerides.

The basil leaves can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. The underlying mechanisms of the effect found may be due to an increased stimulation of the lipolytic activity of plasma lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase [6].The reduction in bad cholesterols help protect your heart and brain and thus improve cardiovascular health.

·       Improves fasting blood sugar

Animal study shows that basil leaves can lower blood glucose level[7].Therefore diabetic people can also consume basil leaves.

·       Helps to manage lung diseases such as bronchitis, asthma etc.

Basil is a well-known herb traditionally used in different cultures across the globe for the management of lung diseases and other organ disorders [5]. The bioactive ingredients of the herb [O. basilicum] have been described to prevent different viral infections.

Three components of basil leaves including linalool, apigenin, and ursolic acid have been described against various types of human adenovirus complications in bronchitis [that is, inflammation of lung bronchi].

Various studies  have showed the relaxant effects of O. basilicum or basil leaves. Its main constituents including linalool and eugenol, have showed the bronchodilatory effects of the plant and its components against obstructive pulmonary diseases such as asthma, bronchitis. However, further extensive studies are needed in this area to confirm the effects more convincingly.

How to include basil leaves in your diet?

·       Basil pasta

·       Tomato basil soup

·       Pesto salmon

·       Basil tomato sauce

·       Salads with basil leaves

·       Pesto shrimp

References

1.   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267031488_Basil_A_natural_source_of_antioxidants_and_neutraceuticals

2.    https://www.britannica.com/plant/basil

3.    https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/basil

4.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5495712/

5.    https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.805391/full

6.    https://clinicalnutritionespen.com/article/S1751-4991(09)00041-9/fulltext

7.    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6542390/