Ocimum sanctum is an erect, herbaceous, much-branched, soft, hairy annual with purple or crimson flowers.
The leaves yield a volatile oil containing eugenol which possesses antibacterial and insecticidal properties. An aqueous decoction of the whole dried plant is reported to lower blood sugar levels. The juice of the leaves possesses diaphoretic, antiperiodic, stimulating and expectorant properties. It is used in catarrh and bronchitis. It is applied to the skin in ringworm and other cutaneous diseases.
The plant increased physical and mental endurance and increased tolerance in animals to physical, chemical, biological and emotional stress. The drug was found to possess anti-asthmatic and anti-rheumatic effect. This drug was also a potent anti-stress agent, superior to Eleuthero coccus and Panax ginseng. The drug exhibited potent anti-asthmatic effect in experimental models. The juice of this plant exhibited potent anti-viral activity.
The aqueous leaf extract exhibited a complete inhibition of the growth of all the three tested Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
