Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum), also known as Tulsi or Incomparable One, is a sacred plant of India. Holy basil has a slightly differing taste than sweet basil that is more spicy, and this recipe offers a delicious Asian spin on a traditionally Italian dipping sauce. Holy Basil is a significant antioxidant, high in chlorophyll, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamins A and C. It may also help to lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels, anxiety, respiratory complaints, and more. Read the research listed below for more details.
There are many chemo-varieties of basil. Holy Basil differs from other types because it is high in eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and estragole. Read more about basil here: All about Basil
Holy Basil Pesto Ingredients
- 3 cups of fresh holy basil leaves, chopped
- 1 cup of fresh cilantro, minced
- 3/4 cup of parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup of sesame oil
- 1/2 of a lemon’s juice
- 1/4 cup of pine nuts
- 1/2 tsp of soy sauce
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 small piece of ginger, about 1/2 inch, sliced
Holy Basil Pesto Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.
- Serve with sesame crackers, rice crackers, or shrimp chips. This is a great appetizer to serve before an Asian dinner dish.
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Holy Basil Research
Holy basil is healthy for us to eat, with its antioxidant, anti-genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In research, it has also shown potential as a cardiac protective, liver protective, neuro-protective, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and anxiolytic. More human studies are warranted. Here is some research:
- Ocimum sanctum and its components of cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, and eugenol demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. From: Kelm, M. A., Nair, M. G., Strasburg, G. M., & DeWitt, D. L. (2000). Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds from Ocimum sanctum Linn. Phytomedicine, 7(1), 7-13.
- Flavonoids of orientin and vicenin of Ocimum sanctum demonstrated free radical formation inhibition and free radical scavenging. From: Uma Devi, P., Ganasoundari, A., Vrinda, B., Srinivasan, K. K., & Unnikrishnan, M. K. (2000). Radiation protection by the ocimum flavonoids orientin and vicenin: mechanisms of action. Radiation Research, 154(4), 455-460.
- Ocimum sanctum showed radioprotective properties and might be usable for Iodine induced damage to the salivary glands. From: Bhartiya, U. S., Raut, Y. S., Joseph, L. J., & Rao, B. S. (2006). Protective effect of Ocimum sanctum L after high-dose iodine exposure in mice: An in vivo study. Indian journal of experimental biology, 44(8), 647.
- Ocimum sanctum extract protected against radiation induced lipid peroxidation. From: Devi, P. U., & Ganasoundari, A. (1999). Modulation of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes by Ocimum sanctum and its role in protection against radiation injury. Indian J Exp Biol, 37(3), 262-268.
- Five species of Ocimum demonstrated antioxidant capabilities. From: Salles Trevisan, M. T., Vasconcelos Silva, M. G., Pfundstein, B., Spiegelhalder, B., & Owen, R. W. (2006). Characterization of the volatile pattern and antioxidant capacity of essential oils from different species of the genus Ocimum. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 54(12), 4378-4382.
- Ocimum sanctum showed an antioxidant and neuroprotective effect that may be useful in treating cerebral reperfusion injury and cerebrovascular insufficiency states and improve memory loss. From: Yanpallewar, S. U., Rai, S., Kumar, M., & Acharya, S. B. (2004). Evaluation of antioxidant and neuroprotective effect of Ocimum sanctum on transient cerebral ischemia and long-term cerebral hypoperfusion. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 79(1), 155-164.
- Ocimum sanctum leaf extract possessed a protective effect against induced genetic damage. From: Babu, K., & Maheswari, K. U. (2006). In vivo studies on the effect of Ocimum sanctum L. leaf extract in modifying the genotoxicity induced by chromium and mercury in Allium root meristems. Journal of Environmental Biology, 27(1), 93.
- Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens, and Ocimum sanctum were tested, and all extracts exhibited high ability for chelating metals, and were effective as DPPH scavengers. From: Grădinariu, V., Cioancă, O., Gille, E., Aprotosoaie, A. C., Hriţcu, L., & Hăncianu, M. (2013). The chemical profile of basil bio-varieties and its implication on the biological activity.
- Ocimum sanctum and its components of cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, and eugenol demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. From: Kelm, M. A., Nair, M. G., Strasburg, G. M., & DeWitt, D. L. (2000). Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds from Ocimum sanctum Linn. Phytomedicine, 7(1), 7-13.
- Ocimum sanctum demonstrated anti-lipid peroxidative and significant liver and aortic tissue protection from hypercholesterolemia-induced peroxidative damage in rabbits. From: Geetha, R. K., & Vasudevan, D. M. (2004). Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by botanical extracts of Ocimum sanctum: in vivo and in vitro studies. Life sciences, 76(1), 21-28.
- In animal studies, O. sanctum lowered blood pressure, thinned blood, and increased sleep time. From: Singh, S., Rehan, H. M. S., & Majumdar, D. K. (2001). Effect of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil on blood pressure, blood clotting time and pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 78(2), 139-143.
- Ocimum sanctum protected rat hearts from chronic restraint stress induced changes. From: Sood, S., Narang, D., Thomas, M. K., Gupta, Y. K., & Maulik, S. K. (2006). Effect of Ocimum sanctum Linn. on cardiac changes in rats subjected to chronic restraint stress. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 108(3), 423-427.
- Ocimum sanctum demonstrated anti-lipid peroxidative and significant liver and aortic tissue protection from hypercholesterolemia-induced peroxidative damage in rabbits. From: Geetha, R. K., & Vasudevan, D. M. (2004). Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by botanical extracts of Ocimum sanctum: in vivo and in vitro studies. Life sciences, 76(1), 21-28.
- Ocimum sanctum alcohol leaf extract shows significant hepatoprotective activity. From: Lahon, K., & Das, S. (2011). Hepatoprotective activity of Ocimum sanctum alcoholic leaf extract against paracetamol-induced liver damage in Albino rats. Pharmacognosy research, 3(1), 13.
- Extracts from Murraya koenigii (curry tree), Mentha piperitae (peppermint), Ocimum sanctum (basil), and Aegle marmelos (woodapple) resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and urea, in diabetic rats. From: Narendhirakannan, R. T., Subramanian, S., & Kandaswamy, M. (2006). Biochemical evaluation of antidiabetogenic properties of some commonly used Indian plants on streptozotocin‐induced diabetes in experimental rats. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 33(12), 1150-1157.
- Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts had a stimulatory effects on insulin secretion which may relate to antidiabetic action. From: Hannan, J. M. A., Marenah, L., Ali, L., Rokeya, B., Flatt, P. R., & Abdel-Wahab, Y. H. A. (2006). Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts stimulate insulin secretion from perfused pancreas, isolated islets and clonal pancreatic β-cells. Journal of Endocrinology, 189(1), 127-136.
- Inula racemosa, Boerhaavia diffusa and Ocimum sanctum (basil) exhibited antiperoxidative, hypoglycaemic and cortisol lowering activities; it is suggested that these three plant extracts may potentially regulate corticosteroid induced diabetes. From: Gholap, S., & Kar, A. (2004). Hypoglycaemic effects of some plant extracts are possibly mediated through inhibition in corticosteroid concentration. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 59(11), 876-878.
- Ocimum sanctum was studied for anti-diabetic activity in rats. From: Vats, V., Yadav, S. P., & Grover, J. K. (2004). Ethanolic extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves partially attenuates streptozotocin-induced alterations in glycogen content and carbohydrate metabolism in rats. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 90(1), 155-160.
- Ocimum sanctum powder had a hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of in diabetic rats. From: Rai, V., Iyer, U., & Mani, U. V. (1997). Effect of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) leaf powder supplementation on blood sugar levels, serum lipids and tissues lipids in diabetic rats. Plant foods for human nutrition, 50(1), 9-16.
- Ocimum sanctum had antidiabetic, hypo-cholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects on rabbits. From: Gupta, S., Mediratta, P. K., Singh, S., Sharma, K. K., & Shukla, R. (2006). Antidiabetic, anti-hypercholesterolaemic and antioxidant effect of Ocimum sanctum (Linn) seed oil. Indian journal of experimental biology, 44(4), 300.
- Ocimum sanctum improved cognitive performance in mice and could be used in treatment of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. From: Joshi, H., & Parle, M. (2006). Evaluation of nootropic potential of Ocimum sanctum Linn. in mice. Indian journal of experimental biology, 44(2), 133.
- Ocimum sanctum showed an antioxidant and neuroprotective effect that may be useful in treating cerebral reperfusion injury and cerebrovascular insufficiency states and improve memory loss. From: Yanpallewar, S. U., Rai, S., Kumar, M., & Acharya, S. B. (2004). Evaluation of antioxidant and neuroprotective effect of Ocimum sanctum on transient cerebral ischemia and long-term cerebral hypoperfusion. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 79(1), 155-164.
- Patients with anxiety disorders took O. sanctum leaf at 500 mg twice a day and noticed significant reduction in stress. From: Bhattacharyya, D., Sur, T. K., Jana, U., & Debnath, P. K. (2008). Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders.
- Anxiolytic and antidepressant actions resulted after inhalation of basil essential oils extracted from Ocimum sanctum and Ocimum basilicum in rats with Alzheimer’s disease. From: Gradinariu, V., Cioanca, O., Hritcu, L., Trifan, A., Gille, E., & Hancianu, M. (2015). Comparative efficacy of Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum basilicum L. essential oils against amyloid beta (1–42)-induced anxiety and depression in laboratory rats. Phytochemistry Reviews, 14(4), 567-575.
- Ocimum sanctumin essential oil reduced stress hormones in rats exposed to noise. From: Samson, J., Devi, R. S., Ravindran, R., & Senthilvelan, M. (2006). Biogenic amine changes in brain regions and attenuating action of Ocimum sanctumin noise exposure. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 83(1), 67-75.
- Ocimum sanctum in rats was an antioxidant for noise induced oxidative stress. From: Samson, J., Sheeladevi, R., & Ravindran, R. (2007). Oxidative stress in brain and antioxidant activity of Ocimum sanctum in noise exposure. Neurotoxicology, 28(3), 679-685.
- Ocimum sanctum extract reduced anxiety, stress, and depression in humans. From: Bhattacharyya, D., Sur, T. K., Jana, U., & Debnath, P. K. (2008). Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders.
- Ocimum sanctum demonstrated anticonvulsant capability. From: Jaggi, R. K., Madaan, R., & Singh, B. (2003). Anticonvulsant potential of holy basil, Ocimum sanctum Linn., and its cultures.
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, Registered Aromatherapist, LMT
4/11/18
