Ocimum SanctumL (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and Its Phytochemicals in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Ocimum sanctum L. or Ocimum tenuiflorum L, commonly known as the Holy Basil in English or Tulsi in the various Indian languages, is a important medicinal plant in the various traditional and folk systems of medicine in Southeast Asia. Scientific studies have shown it to possess antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antistress, and immunomodulatory activities. Preclinical studies have also shown that Tulsi and some of its phytochemicals eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, myretenal, luteolin, β-sitosterol, and carnosic acid prevented chemical-induced skin, liver, oral, and lung cancers and to mediate these effects by increasing the antioxidant activity, altering the gene expressions, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis. The aqueous extract of Tulsi and its flavanoids, orintin, and vicenin are shown to protect mice against γ-radiation-induced sickness and mortality and to selectively protect the normal tissues against the tumoricidal effects of radiation. The other important phytochemicals like eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and carnosic acid are also shown to prevent radiation-induced DNA damage. This review summarizes the results related to the chemopreventive and radioprotective properties of Tulsi and also emphasizes aspects that warrant future research to establish its activity and utility in cancer prevention and treatment.

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“…[10] The aqueous extract of Tulsi and its bio-organic constituents, i.e., flavanoids, orintin, and vicenin are shown to protect mice against γ-radiation-induced sickness and reduced the mortality. It selectively protects the normal tissues against the tumoricidal effects of radiation.…”

“…The other important phytochemicals such as eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and carnosic acid are also shown to prevent radiation-induced DNA damage. [10] Tulsi plant possesses both chemopreventive and radioprotective effects and found highly effective in cancer prevention and treatment. [10] OS is a dietary herb and well known for its multiple beneficial pharmacologic properties including anti-cancer activity.…”

“…OS plant parts and its chemical constituents showed various pharmacological activities. [9] Plant possess strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antistress, and immunomodulatory activities [10] and is a plethora of biological and pharmacological activities. [11] PHYTOCHEMISTRY Ocimum basilicum L. Contains (-)-linalool (30-40%), eugenol (8-30%), and methyl chavicol (15-27%).…”

Evidence-based review on anticancer effects of commonly used herbs

“…Important phytochemicals such as eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, silosterol, carnosic acid, lutrolen, myrtenal present in tulasi prevent chemical-induced cancers of the skin, lung, oral cavity, liver by induction of apoptosis, prevention of angiogenesis and metastasis, antioxidant activity, and alteration of genes. [4] Flavonoids such as ornitine, vicenin, protect normal tissue from therapeutic radiation and prevent radiation-induced mortality in mice. Eugenol, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin present in Holy basil prevent radiation-induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage thereby acting as a chemopreventive agent.…”

Hepatoprotective Models and Various Natural Product Used in Hepatoprotective Agents: a Review

“…[92] Some laboratory experiments on extracts of Ocimum tenuiflorum have indicated they may have potential in future pharmaceutical applications in the field of cancer treatment, and mitigating the effects of radiation exposure. [93] Isolated O. sanctum extracts have some antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. [94] Ricinus communis (Castor oil plant)…”