(Indian) A sacred plant; basil plant Tulasie, Tulasy, Tulasey, Tulasee, Tulsi, Tulasea, Tulsie, Tulsy, Tulsey, Tulsee, Tulsea
Habitat: Western Himalayas at 2,100-3,000 m.
Ayurvedic: Gangaa Tulasi.Folk: Kundiyaa, Chamariyaa.Action: Leaf—haemostatic. Essential oil—antibacterial, antifungal (in 1:1000 dilution).
The major components ofthe essential oil from leaves and flowering tops are alpha-terpinene, thujyl alcohol, ter- penyl acetate, nerol, phellandrene, ci- neol, neral, thujyl acetate, beta-thujone and artemisol.Related sp., known as Gangaa Tu- lasi, are Artemisia lacrorum Ledeb. and A. parviflora Wight.... artemisia vestitaHabitat: The temperate Western Himalaya in Kashmir from 2,1002,400 m.
Ayurvedic: Raam Tulasi.Unani: FeranjmushkAction: Seeds—Febrifuge, carminative, astringent, demulcent, vulnerary. Used is cephalalgia, neurological disorders, as a cardiac tonic, brain tonic and deobstruent in Unani medicine.
Citral and geranyl acetate are major constituents of the essential oil. Others include alpha-pinene, nerol, cit- ronellol, linalool, geraniol, limonene and caproic acid. Flavonoids, including moldavoside, have been isolated from the plant.... dracocephalum moldavicaHabitat: Australia, North America; throughout the warmer parts of the world. In India, in wet plains and low hills and pasture grounds.
English: Crowfoot Grass, Crab Grass.Ayurvedic: Nandimukha (var.).Folk: Nandiaa (Orissa), Mahaar Naachni (Maharashtra), Thippa Ragi (Tamil Nadu).Action: Used for biliary disorders. In Vietnamese traditional medicine, a decoction of the whole plant is used as stomachic, diuretic, febrifuge, and in sprains.
Aerial parts contain vitexin, 3-O- beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-sitosterol and its 6'-O-palmitoyl derivatives. of intoxication. Used for abdominal pains, nausea, bleeding nose. Fresh plants from Uttaranchal gave 0.4% essential oil having dehydroelsholtzia ketone 88.7% as the main constituent, followed by humulene 2.4% and caryophyllene 0.9% (the oil composition of the species which grow in Japan and Kashmir is different.)Plant contains linarin, apigenin and 7-O-glucosides of apigenin and lute- olin.The Japanese species, used for hangovers, gave compounds including tri- terpenoids, steroids and flavonoids.Elsholtzia blenda Benth., synonym Perilla elata D. Don, is also equated with Ban-Tulasi. Major constituent of the essential oil is geranyl acetate. Other constituents are p-cymene, sa- binene, borneol, geraniol, linalyl acetate, fernesol, limonene, linalool, cit- ronellol, thymol and nerolidol.... eleusine indicaHabitat: The Himalayas and Assam up to 3,000 m, introduced into the Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu).
Ayurvedic: Ajagandhaa (controversial synonym).Folk: Ban-Tulasi, Bovai, Phoot- Kanda.Action: Carminative, stomachic, astringent. Leaf—diuretic, antipyretic. Neutralizes after effects... elsholtzia cristata
Habitat: Native to tropical America. Distributed throughout India.
Ayurvedic: Tumbaaka (provisional synonym).Folk: Gangaa Tulasi, Vilaayati Tulasi, Bhunsari.Action: Carminative, antispasmodic, antisoporific, antirheumatic, anticephalalgic, lactagogue. Used in catarrhal and uterine affections, parasitical cutaneous diseases, epistaxis.
The plant gave lupeol, lupeol acetate and friedelin, leaves and flowers gave campesterol and fucosterol; roots contained beta-sitosterol, oleanolic and alpha-peltoboykinolic acids.The plant gave an essential oil containing l-sabinene. l-limonene and azulenic sesquiterpenes as major constituents. The oil inhibits the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly, Staphylococcus aureus; also exhibits fungitoxicity.Alcoholic extract (50%) of the whole plant exhibited hypoglycaemic and anticancer activity.... hyptis suaveolensHabitat: Moist parts of India, up to 1,800 m.
English: Indian Rhododendron.Folk: Laakheri, Paalorey (Maharashtra). Tulasi (Nepal). Nakkukappan (Tamil Nadu), Phutuka (Assam).Action: Leaf—antidiarrhoeal, antiseptic. Locally applied in smallpox to prevent pox-marks. Leaf and flowering top—astringent, antileucorrhoeic. Bark—applied to wounds. Also employed in preparation of gargles.
The leaves gave amino acids—gly- cine, valine, leucine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, methionine, tyrosine, isoleucine and hydroxyproline. The roots gave beta-sitosterol and a tri- terpene, melastomic acid.... melastoma malabathricumHabitat: Lower hills of Punjab; cultivated throughout India.
English: Sweet Basil, Basil Herb.Ayurvedic: Barbari, Tuvari, Tungi, Kharpushpa, Ajgandhikaa, Baabui Tulasi.Unani: Faranjmishk. (also equated with Dracocephalum moldavica Linn. by National Formulary of Unani Medicine.), Raihan (also equated with O. sanctum). (used as a substitute for Phanijjaka.)Siddha/Tamil: Tiruneetruppachhilai.Folk: Bana-Tulasi. Sabzaa (Maharashtra).Action: Flower—stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, diuretic, demulcent. Seed—antidysenteric. Juice of the plant—antibacterial. Essential oil—antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal.
(Because of high estragole content of the essential oil, the herb should not be taken during pregnancy, nursing or over extended periods of time.) (German Commission E.) Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.The herb contains an essential oil; major constituents are linalool (up to 55%) methyl ether (estragole) up to 70% and eugenol; caffeic acid derivatives; flavonoids. Thymol and xan- thomicrol were isolated from the leaves. Aesculetin, p-coumaric acid, eriodic- tyol, its 7-glucoside and vicenin-2 from leaves have been isolated.The essential oil at concentration of 0.15% completely inhibited mycelial growth of twenty two species of fungi, including mycotoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. par- asiticus. Leaves act as an insect repellent externally; bring relief to insect bites and stings.In homoeopathy, the fresh mature leaves are used to treat haematuria, inflammation and congestion of kidney.Dosage: Whole plant—50-100 ml decoction; seed—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)... ocimum basilicumHabitat: Plains and lower hills of India.
English: Hoary Basil.Ayurvedic: Kaali Tulasi, Vana-Tulasi.Siddha/Tamil: Ganjamkorai, Nai-Tulasi.Action: Plant—stimulant, carminative, diaphoretic. Leaf—bechic, febrifuge; used in cold, bronchitis, catarrh, externally in skin diseases. Essential oil—antifungal. Seeds— hypoglycaemic; also used in the treatment of leucorrhoea and other diseases of urinogenital system.
The essential oil at the flowering stage contains citral as a major component along with methylheptenone, methylnonylketone and camphor.Leaves yielded beta-sitosterol, be- tulinic acid and ursolic acid and flavonoids, pectolinarigenin-7-methylether and nevadensin.Seeds exhibited antidiabetic activity, improved glucose tolerance was observed in diabetic patients who were given 30 g seed/day for 1 month, lowering of fasting plasma glucose level up to 30% was also observed. to assess the inheritance pattern of major chemical constituents of essential oils in hybrids produced by interspecific as well as intraspecific crosses of Ocimum sp.).... ocimum canumHabitat: Throughout India.
English: Shrubby Basil.Ayurvedic: Vriddha Tulasi, Raam- Tulasi, Raan-Tulasi.Siddha: Elumicha-Tulasi, Peria- Tulasi.Action: Plant—used in neurological and rheumatic affections, in seminal weakness and in aphthae of children. Seed—used in cephalalgia and neuralgia. Essential oil— antibacterial, antifungal.
In homoeopathy, fresh mature leaves are used in constipation, cough, fever, nasal catarrh; also in gonorrhoea with difficult urination.A heterotic hybrid 'Clocimum' (po- lycross of gratissimum) has been developed in India which yields 4.55.7% essential oil having a eugenol content up to 95%. Direct production of methyl eugenol and eugenol acetate from 'Clocimum' oil is reported.Major constituents reported from 'Clocimum' oil are myrcene 8.87, eugenol 68.14, isoeugenol 13.88, methyl- eugenol 1.74%; other constituents are alpha- pinene, limonene, phellandrene, terpene 4-ol, alpha-terpineol, carveol, carvene, geranyl acetate, caryophyl- lone and caryophyllone oxide.(At Regional Research Laboratory, CSIR, Jammu, a study was conducted Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke.Synonym: O. camphora Guerke.Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.Habitat: Native of Kenya. Cultivated on a small scale in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Dehr Dun.
English: Camphor Basil.Ayurvedic: Karpura Tulasi.Action: Plant—spasmolytic, antibacterial. Decamphorized oil— insecticidal, mosquito repellent.
Essential oil contains camphor, pi- nene, limonene, terpinolene, myrcene, beta-phellandrene, linalool, camphene, p-cymene, borneol and alpha-selinene. The Camphor content varies in different samples from 61 to 80.5%.... ocimum gratissimumHabitat: Throughout India; grown in houses, gardens and temples.
English: Holy Basil, Sacred Basil.Ayurvedic: Tulasi, Surasaa, Surasa, Bhuutaghni, Suravalli, Sulabhaa, Manjarikaa, Bahumanjari, Deva- dundubhi, Apet-raakshasi, Shuu- laghni, Graamya, Sulabhaa.Unani: Tulasi.Siddha/Tamil: Tulasi, Nalla-Tulasi.Action: Leaf—carminative, stomachic, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, expectorant, stimulant, hepatoprotective, antiperiodic, antipyretic and diaphoretic. Seed— used in genitourinary diseases. Root—antimalarial. Plant—adap- togenic, antistress. Essential oil— antibacterial, antifungal.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the use of the leaf and seed in rhinitis and influenza; the seed in psychological disorders, including fear-psychosis and obsessions.Major components of the essential oil are eugenol, carvacrol, nerol and eugenolmethylether. Leaves have been reported to contain ursolic acid, api- genin, luteolin, apigenin-7-O-glucu- ronide, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, orientin and molludistin.Ursolic acid, isolated from leaves, exhibited significant protection of mast cell membrane by preventing granulation and decreased histamine release. The ethanolic extract (50%) of fresh leaves, volatile oil from fresh leaves and fixed oil from seeds showed antiasth- matic activity and significantly protected guinea-pigs against histamine and dyspnoea. They also showed anti- inflammatory activity against carrage- enan-, serotonin-, histamine- and PGE-2-induced inflammation and inhibited hind paw oedema in rats.The ethanol extract (90%) of the leaves showed hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver damage.The plant extract exhibited antiul- cerogenic property against experimental ulcers.Oral administration of alcoholic extract of leaves lowers blood sugar level in normal, glucose-fed hyperglycaemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The activity of the extract was 91.55 and 70.43% of that of tolbutamide in normal and diabetic rats respectively.Administration of the juice of the plant affected a significant reduction in the size of urinary brushite crystals.A study of methanol extract and aqueous suspension of the leaves showed immunostimulation of humoral immunologic response in albino rats indicating the adaptogenic action of the plant.Dosage: Seed—1-2 g powder (API, Vol. IV); plant—50-10 ml infusion (CCRAS.).... ocimum sanctumHabitat: Native to Africa; introduced into India.
English: Fever plant of Sierra Leone.Folk: Taap-maari Tulasi (Maharashtra).Action: Leaves—febrifugal. Used as a remedy for coughs and fevers. Oil—antiseptic.
Ocimum viride species, cultivated in Jammu-Tawi, gives maximum oil yield(0.4%) at full bloom stage and highest percentage of thymol (55.12%) in the oil, which can be used as a substitute for thyme-ajowan oil.... ocimum virideHabitat: Manipur, Naga and Lushai hills, Chota Nagpur, Western Ghats.
English: Kidney Tea Plant, Java Tea.Folk: Mutri-Tulasi (Maharashtra).Action: Leaves—diuretic, used in nephrosis and severe cases of oedema. An infusion of leaves is given as a specific in the treatment of various kidney and bladder diseases including nephrocirrhosis and phosphaturia, also in rheumatism and gout.
Key application: In irrigation therapy for bacterial and inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and renal gravel. (German Commission E.) Flower tops and leaves (samples from Indonesia) contained methyl ri- pariochromene A. In another sample, leaves also yielded several phenolic compounds including lipophilic flavones, flavonol glycosides and caf- feic acid derivatives. Rosmarinic acid and 2,3-dicaffeoyl-tartaric acid (67% of total phenolics, 94.5% in hot water extract) were major compounds of caffeic acid derivatives.The leaves also contain a high percentage (0.7-00.8) of potassium salts. Presence oforthosiphonin and potassium salts help in keeping uric acid and urate salts in solution, thus prevents calculi and other deposits. The leaf extract lowers blood sugar in diabetics, but not consistently.Orthosiphon pallidus Royle, equated with the Ayurvedic herb Arjaka and Shveta-Kutherak and known as Ajagur and Naganda-baavari in folk medicine, is used for dysuria and colic.... orthosiphon grandiflorusHabitat: Orissa, Gujarat, South India, ascending up to 1,000 m in the hills.
Ayurvedic: Prataanikaa (non- classical).Folk: Tulasi (var.), Kattu-thrithava (Kerala).Action: Plant—a decoction is given in diarrhoea. Leaves—applied externally to cuts and wounds.... orthosiphon tomentosus
Habitat: Throughout the Himalayas up to an altitude of about 3,500 m, and in the hills of Assam.
English: Perilla, Wild Coleus.Folk: Bhanjeer, Ban-tulasi, Ban- jiraa, Bhasindi.Action: Herb—sedative, antispasmodic, antiasthmatic, resolvent.
P. frutescens var. crispa is used in mixtures prescribed for cough and lung affections.Several chemotypes of Perilla have been detected. The Indian type is rich in rosefuran. Other components are perillene, perilla ketone, beta-caryo- phyllene, phellandrene and a few ses- quiterpenoids. Aerial parts gave ethyl linolenate, linolenic acid and beta- sitosterol. The leaves also gave an an- thocyanin, perillanin. The leaves and flowering tops yield essential oils containing perilla ketone as major com- ponent—94% in leaf oils and 47% in inflorescence oils at fruiting stage.Perillaldehyde, a major component of the plant extract, inhibits (moderately) a broad range of both bacteria and fungi. The MeOH extract of var. acuta Kudo is reported to prolong hexobarbital-induced sleep in mice. Dillapiol has been isolated as the active principle from the methanolic extract.... perilla frutescensHabitat: Throughout the plains of India, up to 1,500 m in the hills.
Ayurvedic: Samudrashosha, Kammarkasa.Folk: Bhuu-Tulasi.Action: Plant—diuretic, an- thelmintic, astringent, demulcent. Leaves—used for toothache. Seeds—mucilaginous, used for diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia and haemorrhoids.
The plant contains flavones—nepe- tin and hispidulin and their gluco- sides. Flowers also contain nepetin. Sitosterol and oleanolic acid are also present. The seeds yield secoisolari- ciresinol diester.... salvia plebeiaHabitat: Indigenous to tropical America; introduced into India, commonly found as a weed in Bengal and Tamil Nadu, and in many parts of India.
English: Sweet Broomweed.Folk: Jastimadhu, Madhukam, Ghodaa-tulasi.Action: Plant—decoction is used for gravel and other renal affections. Leaves—infusion used in fever, cough and bronchitis. Root— febrifuge. Stem and leaves—used in anemia, albuminaria, ketonuria and other complications associated with diabetes mellitus.
An antidiabetic compound, amellin, occurs in the leaves and stems of the green plant.According to some researchers, hy- poglycaemic compounds were not present in the extracts obtained from dry plant material.The leaves contain the flavonoids, scutellarein and 7-O-methylscutella rein. Whole plant gave the triterpe- noids, dulcitol, friedelin, scopadol, be- tulinic acid, dulcitolic acid and dulci- olone. Benzoxazolinone, beta-sitoster- ol, D-mannitol, hexacosanol and tri- triacontane were also obtained from the plant.... scoparia dulcis
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