A Comprehensive Review on Chemical Profile and Pharmacological Activities of Ocimum basilicum

ABSTRACT

Herbs and plant metabolites/extracts are gaining wide attention owing to their multiple beneficial health effects, medicinal values, and nutraceutical properties, particularly in the present era of emerging drug resistance and untold side effects of chemical drugs. Ocimum basilicum L., known as sweet basil, has been studied for its various potent effects including, antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-osteoporotic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, and other beneficial health effects. Thus, this herb has the potential for treating a myriad of ailments/diseases and disorders in both humans and animals. Different bioactive chemical compounds have been identified from O. basilicum, such as linalool, geraniol, methyl eugenol, methyl chavicol, p-allylanisole, 1,8–cineole, trans–α–bergamotene, and neryl acetate. Recent advances in nanotechnology can further be utilized for improving the multiple beneficial activities of the crude extract of O. basilicum. This review highlights the phytoconstituent profile, medicinal values, therapeutic applications, and salient beneficial health aspects of O. basilicum, which would help in further exploring this wonderful herb for designing effective pharmaceuticals, drugs and medicines for safeguarding various health issues of humans and animals, while supporting its traditional use in curing various ailments, diseases and health-promoting effects.

KEYWORDS:

• Biological activities
• chemical properties
• health benefits
• medicinal values
• Ocimum basilicum

Acknowledgments

All the authors acknowledge and thank their respective Institutes and Universities.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Author contributions

All the authors substantially contributed to the conception, design, analysis and interpretation of data, checking and approving final version of the manuscript, and agree to be accountable for its contents.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Human and animal rights

No Animals/Humans were used for studies that are the basis of this research.

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Additional information

Funding

This compilation is a review article written, analyzed and designed by its authors and required no substantial funding to be stated.