Holy Basil Purple

Botanical Name - Ocimum basilicum

Category - Medicinal

Form - Dry

Part Used - Leaves

General Information - Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum), Ocimum gratissimum (O. gratissimum) and Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum), commonly known as holy basil, clove basil (wild basil/East India basil) and sweet basil, respectively, are frequently cultivated in several countries of East Asia, Europe, America and Australia for the production of essential oils. Ocimum americanum (O. americanum) formerly known as Ocimum canum (O. canum), includes wild species in India, but is cultivated in Indonesia for its essential oil for commercial purposes. Ocimum kilimandscharicum (O. kilimandscharicum), a variety species of O. basilicum, commonly called African blue basil is known for its camphor like scent of its essential oil. Similarly, Ocimum minimum and Ocimum citriodorum also include variety species of O. basilicum popular in Indonesia, Mexico and Africa for their naturally occurring essential oils as in perfumery and cosmetic applications. Likewise, Ocimum tenuiflorum (O. tenuiflorum) includes variety species of O. sanctum. Traditionally, these Ocimum species have been extensively utilized in food and perfumery industries. The aerial parts of the plants are considered as antispasmodic, stomachic and carminative in native medicine

Phytochemicals - Ocimum plant part are complex mixtures of natural organic compounds which are predominantly composed of terpenic hydrocarbons (myrecene, pinene, terpinene, limonene, p-cymene, and phellandrene) and terpenoids (oxygen containing hydrocarbons) like acyclic monoterpene alcohols (geraniol, linalool), monocyclic alcohols (menthol, 4-carvomenthol, terpineol, carveol, borneol), aliphatic aldehydes (citral, citronellal, perillaldehyde), aromatic phenols (carvacrol, thymol, safrol, eugenol), bicyclic alcohol (verbenol), monocyclic ketones (menthone, pulegone, carvone), bicyclic monoterpenic ketones (thujone, verbenone, fenchone), acids (citronellic acid, cinnamic acid) and esters (linalyl acetate).