Basil – The king of herbs

By Elina Vogiatzaki

Common names of Basil
Basiliekruid (Afrikaans), 罗勒 (Chinese), Basilic (French), Vasilikos (Greek), Basilikum (German), la Albahaca (Spanish), Tulsi (Hindi).

Brief history

Basil is one of the most commonly used herbs in many cuisines around the world. The name comes from the Greek word basileus which means king. In the western world, the Ocimum basilicum species is most commonly used, whereas in India and Nepal the species Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum are used to name the holy plant which represents the goddess Tulsi (the incomparable one, Hindi) and is commonly used in Ayuverda. In South America, the word altavaca refers to the different basil species used for medicinal and culinary purposes and, there are two different names for the characteristic Thai basils; Ocimum citriodorum (mangluk in Thai) with its characteristic lemony odor and flavor and Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum characteristic for its licorice scent. Finally, the Ocimum gratissimum or clove basil is commonly used in Africa, Asia and South America and it has also a characteristic citrus smell.

Health benefits

There are many experimental studies that have tested the health benefits of several basil species, especially O. basilicum, O. sanctum and O. gratissimum. After testing its leaf or seed extracts they suggest that basil can contribute significantly to a surprisingly high number of different diseases.

Anti-oxidant – Protects from cancer

Due to its high levels of phenolic and many other active compounds⁷, basil is a very good anti-oxidant and helps to prevent cancer. It has been shown in animal studies that it can help in the detoxification of carcinogens and mutagens, as well as inhibit early-stage skin cancers^{3, 4, 11, 13}.

Anti-inflammatory – Helps the immune system

Extracts of basil were used in several clinical trials and it was shown that the number of natural killer and T-helper cells, of the immune system of healthy adults, was increased. Basil extracts boosted the immune system and contributed to its response against viruses, including HIV^{6, 14, 15}.

Good neuroprotective

The very dark red basils contain good amounts of anthocyanins, which apart from their antioxidant effect, they also have important neuroprotective effects. According to scientific studies they contribute to the prevention of Parkinson`s disease⁵.

Controls diabetes

There are more than 20 scientific studies that show the effect of basil on diabetes control^{6, 12, 14, 16}. Different parts of the plant were tested (whole plant, powdered leaves, juice, or extracts) and they all showed that basil can reduce the blood glucose.

Fat burning

There are several studies that have tested the effect of basil on fat burning^{1, 2}. Apart from reducing the bad cholesterol (Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C) and increasing the good cholesterol (HDL-C), it also lowered the blood pressure in diabetic and obese participants. Thus, consuming basil also helps to reduce cholesterol levels, prevent heart related diseases, as well as reduce weight⁶.

Wound healing

It has been shown from some studies that extract of basil leaves combined with honey⁹ or calendula leaf extract¹⁰ is very effective for wound healing. Experiments in rats showed that it can treat stomach ulcers^{3, 4, 11, 13}.

Take home message

Basil is a herb with many important health benefits. It has great anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which make it a great ingredient to add in our diet in order to prevent cancer and boost our immune system. According to scientists, it can also help to prevent diabetes, Parkinson’s as well as to reduce weight. Like oregano, it also has great wound healing properties and it can either be used topically or as a tea to treat stomach ulcers.

Recipes

Vegan Mung Burgers
Vegetable Risotto
Add it to your Greek salad instead of Oregano

Tips and tricks

Fresh basil gives the maximum flavor and aroma to your dishes.
If you grow a lot of basil during the summer, you can cut regularly branches of it, tie them in bunches with a thread and let them hang under the shade. When they are completely dry you can smash them into small pieces with your hand and you can store them in glass jars or tightly closed bags in order to use them all over the year.
If you are vegan, maintaining an adequate intake of B12 vitamin is difficult. In order to avoid taking supplements, adding basil in your daily diet is very important, as it is a great natural source of vitamin B12.

References

Amrani S, Harnafi H, Bouanani NH, Aziz M, Caid HS, Manfredini S, et al, Hypolipidaemic activity of aqueous Ocimum basilicum extract in acute hyperlipidaemia induced by triton WR-1339 in rats and its antioxidant property, Phytother Res, 2006; 20(12): 1040-5.
Bravo E, Amrani S, Aziz M, Harnafi H, Napolitano M, Ocimum basilicum ethanolic extract decreases cholesterol synthesis and lipid accumulation in human macrophages, Fitoterapia, 2008; 79(7-8): 515-23.
Banerjee S, Prashar R, Kumar A, Rao AR, Modulatory influence of alcoholic extract of Ocimum leaves on carcinogen-metabolizing enzyme activities and reduced glutathione levels in mouse, Nutr Cancer, 1996; 25: 205-217.
Dasgupta T., Rao A.R., Yadava P.K. Chemomodulatory efficacy of basil leaf (Ocimum basilicum) on drug metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, and on carcinogen-induced skin and forestomach papillomagenesis, Phytomedicine, 2004; 11: 139-151.
Gao X, Cassidy A, Schwarzchild MA, Rimm EB, Ascherio A, Habitual intake of dietary flavonoids and risk of Parkinson’s disease, Neurology, 2012; 78: 1138-1145.

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