Research
Update
Researchers found that the plant
increased physical and mental
endurance and increased tolerance
in animals to physical, chemical,
biological and emotional stress.
The drug was found to possess
anti-asthmatic and anti-rheumatic
effect.
The
anti-asthmatic activity of the
extract of dried and fresh leaves,
and the volatile and fixed oils
of Ocimum sanctum was evaluated
against histamine and acetylcholine-induced
pre-convulsive dyspnea (PCD)
in guinea pigs. The extract
of fresh leaves, volatile oil
extracted from fresh leaves
and fixed oil from the seeds
significantly protected the
guinea pigs against histamine-and
acetylcholine-induced PCD. These
extracts also inhibited hind
paw edema induced in rats by
treatment with carrageenan,
serotonin, histamine of PGE2.
The leaves of the Ocimum sanctum
plant were tried in cases of
bronchial asthma, the Ocimum
sanctum was found to be highly
efficacious.
Additional
benefits
This drug was also a potent
anti-stress agent, superior
to Eleuthero coccus and Panax
ginseng. The drug exhibited
potent anti-asthmatic effect
in experimental models. The
juice of this plant exhibited
potent anti-viral activity.
The aqueous leaf extract exhibited
a complete inhibition of the
growth of all the three tested
Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
Side
Effects
Tulsi does not have any significant
side effects reported in the
medical literature, but long
term studies are not yet available.
