Scientific Evaluation of the Role of Ocimum sanctum in Ayurvedic Formulations and Its Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Ocimum sanctum (L.), more frequently referred to as Tulsi, is a treasured medicinal plant which has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic and indigenous medications. Not only in Ayurveda and Siddha, but additionally in Greek, Roman, and Unani medicine, this herb has been attributed with various scientific benefits. In South Asia, it is typically used as a medicinal plant and natural tea. The significance of Ayurveda medicine, ethnopharmacology, geographical distribution, botanical description, Ayurvedic formulations, marketed formulations, present compounds, modern-day extraction methods, pharmacological profile, and medical investigations are all described in this chapter. Traditional Ayurvedic books, as well as Science-Direct, SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and ACS Publications on O. sanctum, have been used in the research. Nearly 60 chemical compounds have been observed in O. sanctum, such as phenolics, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, fatty acid derivatives, essential oil, fixed oil, and steroids. However, rosmarinic acid is one of the the major phenylpropanoids, followed by luteolin, kaempferol, and rutin. According to the pharmacological research described here, O. sanctum can be utilized to deal with a vast variety of ailments. It has been established to be nontoxic and scientifically suitable for human fitness and well-being from historical times to the present. O. sanctum-based natural compositions have been offered as supplements, extracts, pills, and powders. This chapter aims to be a resource in the correlation of this accepted Ayurvedic herb's pharmacological activities and phytochemical profile.