Abstract

PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF OCIMUM SANCTUM- A MAGICAL DRUG

Kaur Narinderpal*

ABSTRACT

Ocimum sanctum described as sacred and medicinal plant in ancient literature, commonly known as Tulsi is derived from ‘Sanskrit’, which means "the incomparable one". This plant belongs to the family Lamiaceae which is native throughout the Old World tropics and cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes. In traditional systems of medicine, different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even whole plant) of Ocimum sanctum have been recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever, insect bite etc. The Ocimum sanctum L. has also been suggested to possess antifertility, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antiemetic, antispasmodic, analgesic, adaptogenic and diaphoretic actions. This review gives emphasis on different phytoconstituents and different Pharmacological activities of Ocimum sanctum.

Keywords: Ocimum sanctum, chemical constituents, anticancer, adaptogen/ antistress, antioxidant, anti-radiation, immunomodulator.