{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Redirect2|Tulsi|Tulsi|other uses|Tulasi (disambiguation)|and|Tulsi (disambiguation)}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Holy Basil|holy herb}} {{Speciesbox | image = Tulsi or Tulasi Holy basil.jpg | genus = Ocimum | species = tenuiflorum | authority = L.<ref name="POWO" /> | synonyms = {{Species list | Geniosporum tenuiflorum | (L.) Merr. | Lumnitzera tenuiflora | (L.) Spreng. | Moschosma tenuiflorum | (L.) Heynh. | Ocimum hirsutum | Benth. | Ocimum inodorum | Burm.f. | Ocimum monachorum | L. | Ocimum sanctum | L. | Ocimum subserratum | B.Heyne ex Hook.f. | Ocimum tomentosum | Lam. | Plectranthus monachorum | (L.) Spreng. }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name="POWO" /> }}
'''''Ocimum tenuiflorum''''', commonly known as '''tulasi''', '''tulsi''', or '''holy basil''', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae.<ref name="GRIN">{{GRIN | access-date = 7 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="CABI-ISC" /> It is widely cultivated throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.<ref name="POWO">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' L. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:453130-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213124754/https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:453130-1 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=26 June 2023 |publisher=Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens}}</ref><ref name="Staples19992">{{Cite book |last=Staples |first=George |title=Ethnic Culinary Herbs |last2=Michael S. Kristiansen |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8248-2094-7 |page=73}}</ref><ref name="warrier2">{{Cite book |last=Warrier |first=P K |title=Indian Medicinal Plants |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-86311-551-6 |page=168}}</ref> It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia and the western Pacific.<ref name="POWO" /> This plant has escaped from cultivation and has naturalized in many tropical regions of the Americas.<ref name="CABI-ISC">{{Cite web |date=23 August 2014 |title=''Ocimum tenuiflorum'' (holy basil) |url=http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/110287 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809110813/https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/110287 |url-status=live |archive-date=9 August 2022 |access-date=26 June 2023 |publisher=CABI Invasive Species Compendium}}</ref><ref name="ITIS Standard Report Page: Ocimum tenuiflorum">{{ cite web | url=http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=507863 | title=''Ocimum tenuiflorum''|publisher=Integrated Taxonomic Information System|date=26 June 2023|accessdate=26 June 2023}}</ref> It is an agricultural and environmental weed.<ref name="CABI-ISC" />
''Tulasi'' is cultivated for religious and traditional medicine purposes, and also for its essential oil. It is widely used as an herbal tea, commonly used in Ayurveda. It has a place within the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving the plant or its leaves.
==Morphology== Holy basil is an erect, many-branched subshrub, {{convert|30-60|cm|abbr=on}} tall with hairy stems. Leaves are green or purple; they are simple, petioled, with an ovate blade up to {{convert|5|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} long, which usually has a slightly toothed margin; they are strongly scented and have a decussate phyllotaxy. The purplish flowers are placed in close whorls on elongated racemes.<ref name="warrier">{{Cite book |last=Warrier |first=P K |title=Indian Medicinal Plants |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-86311-551-6 |page=168}}</ref>
The three main morphotypes cultivated in India and Nepal are ''Ram tulsi'' (the most common type, with broad bright green leaves that are slightly sweet), the less common purplish green-leaved (Krishna or ''Shyama tulsi'') and the common wild ''vana tulsi'' (e.g., ''Ocimum gratissimum'').<ref name="bio">{{Cite journal |date=November–December 2005 |title=Volatile Constituents in Oil from Different Plant Parts of Methyl Eugenol-Rich Ocimum tenuiflorum L.f. (syn. O. sanctum L.) Grown in South India |journal=Journal of Essential Oil Research |doi=10.1080/10412905.2005.9699025 |first1=S. K. |last1=Kothari |first2=A. K. |last2=Bhattacharya |first3=S. |last3=Ramesh |first4=S. N. |last4=Garg |first5=S. P. S. |last5=Khanuja |pages=656–658 |volume=17 |issue=6 |s2cid=95551382 }}</ref>
== Phytochemicals == The plant and its oil contain diverse phytochemicals, including tannins, flavonoids, eugenol, caryophyllenes, carvacrol, linalool, camphor, and cinnamyl acetate, among others.<ref name="drugs">{{cite web |title=Holy basil |url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/holy-basil.html |publisher=Drugs.com |access-date=26 June 2023 |date=1 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1080/10826076.2011.606583|title=LC-MS Quantification of Rosmarinic Acid and Ursolic Acid in Theocimum Sanctumlinn. Leaf Extract (Holy Basil, Tulsi)|journal=Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies|volume=35|issue=5|pages=634|year=2012|last1=Sundaram|first1=R. Shanmuga|last2=Ramanathan|first2=M|last3=Rajesh|first3=R|last4=Satheesh|first4=B|last5=Saravanan|first5=D|s2cid=95225535}}</ref> One study reported that the plant contains an eponymous family of 10 neolignan compounds called ''tulsinol A-J''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Singh |first=Deepika |last2=Chaudhuri |first2=Prabir K. |date=2018-08-01 |title=A review on phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Holy basil (''Ocimum sanctum'' L.) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669018302711 |journal=Industrial Crops and Products |language=en |volume=118 |pages=367–382 |doi=10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.03.048 |issn=0926-6690|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Specific aroma compounds in the essential oil are camphor (32%), eucalyptol (19%), ⍺-bisabolene (17%), eugenol (14%), germacrene (11%) and β-bisabolene (11%).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Yamani |first1=Hanaa A. |last2=Pang |first2=Edwin C. |last3=Mantri |first3=Nitin |last4=Deighton |first4=Margaret A. |date=2016 |title=Antimicrobial Activity of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) Essential Oil and Their Major Constituents against Three Species of Bacteria |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |volume=7 |page=681 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2016.00681 |issn=1664-302X |pmc=4868837 |pmid=27242708 |doi-access=free }}</ref>{{dubious source|date=April 2023}} In addition, more than 60 different aroma compounds were found through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of holy basil.<ref name=":0" /> However, other studies have stated tulsi essential oil consists mostly of eugenol (70%) β-elemene (11%), β-caryophyllene (8%), and germacrene (2%), with the balance being made up of various trace compounds, mostly terpenes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Padalia |first1=Rajendra C. |last2=Verma |first2=Ram S. |year=2011 |title=Comparative volatile oil composition of four ''Ocimum'' species from northern India |journal=Natural Product Research |volume=25 |issue=6 |pages=569–575 |doi=10.1080/14786419.2010.482936 |pmid=21409717 |s2cid=205836713}}</ref>
==Uses==
===Culinary===
====Thai cuisine==== The leaves of holy basil, known as ''kaphrao'' in the Thai language ({{lang|th|กะเพรา}}), are commonly used in Thai cuisine for certain stir-fries and curries such as ''phat kaphrao'' ({{lang|th|ผัดกะเพรา}}) — a stir-fry of Thai holy basil with meats, seafood or, as in ''khao phat kraphao'', with rice. Two different types of holy basil are used in Thailand, a "red" variant which tends to be more pungent, and a "white" version for seafood dishes.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=David |title=Thai food |date=2010 |publisher=Pavilion Books |location=London |isbn=9-781862-055148 |pages=143 |edition=7 |accessdate= }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Punyaratabandhu |first1=Leela |title=Bangkok |date=2017 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-399-57831-1 |page=338 |edition=1 |accessdate= }}</ref> ''Kaphrao'' should not be confused with ''horapha'' ({{lang|th|โหระพา}}), which is normally known as Thai basil,<ref name=katzer>[http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Ocim_bas.html Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages]</ref> or with Thai lemon basil (''maenglak''; {{lang|th|แมงลัก}}).
====Minangkabau cuisine==== Holy basil (in Minangkabau language and Indonesian language are known as ''{{ill|ruku-ruku|id|ruku-ruku}}'') is also widely used for Minangkabau dishes, particularly for its gulai variety, which involves fish as the primary source of protein.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yenti |first1=Juni Fitra |title=Daun Ruku-Ruku, Bumbu Dapur yang Sering Dipakai Orang Minang |url=https://sumbarkita.id/daun-ruku-ruku-bumbu-dapur-yang-sering-dipakai-orang-minang/ |website=Sumbarkita.id |publisher=Sumbarkita.id |access-date=10 February 2025 |language=id |date=3 June 2024}}</ref> These Minangkabau fish gulais that commonly use holy basil such as ''gulai ikan mas'' (carp gulai), ''gulai ikan kakap'' (red snapper gulai), ''gulai kepala ikan kakap'' (red snapper's head gulai), ''samba ikan gadang'' or ''pangek'' (braised fish gulai),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Soepono |first1=Sri S |title=Ensiklopedi makanan tradisional Indonesia: Sumatera. |date=2004 |publisher=Proyek Pelestarian dan Pengembangan Tradisi dan Kepercayaan |location=Jakarta|pages=133-5 |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/perpus-dprd.appspot.com/books/file-5yz1-1704722611405-g7bs.pdf|access-date=February 10, 2026|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260210030233/https://storage.googleapis.com/perpus-dprd.appspot.com/books/file-5yz1-1704722611405-g7bs.pdf |archive-date= February 10, 2026 }}</ref> and ''gulai telur ikan'' (fish roe gulai). Holy basil leaves are used to enhance flavour.
<gallery widths="200" heights="180" mode="packed"> File:Kraphao mu khai dao.jpg|''Phat kaphrao mu'' – Thai holy basil with pork – a common dish in Thailand. File:Gulai kapalo lauak.jpg|A plate of gulai kepala ikan (fish head's gulai) accompanied by ruku-ruku, slices of blimbi wuluh (''Averrhoa bilimbi'') and green cabai rawit (bird's eye chilies). </gallery>
===Insect repellent=== For centuries, the dried leaves have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Biswas|first=N. P.|author2=Biswas, A. K.|title= Evaluation of some leaf dusts as grain protectant against rice weevil ''Sitophilus oryzae'' (Linn.) |journal=Environment and Ecology|volume= 23 |issue= 3|year= 2005|pages=485–488 }}</ref>
===Nematicidal=== The essential oil may have nematicidal properties against ''Tylenchulus semipenetrans'', ''Meloidogyne javanica'', ''Anguina tritici'', and ''Heterodera cajani''.<ref name="Chitwood-2002">{{cite journal | last=Chitwood | first=David J. | title=Phytochemical Based Strategies for Nematode Control | journal=Annual Review of Phytopathology | publisher=Annual Reviews | volume=40 | issue=1 | year=2002 | issn=0066-4286 | doi=10.1146/annurev.phyto.40.032602.130045 | pages=221–249| pmid=12147760 }}</ref>
==In Hinduism== {{main|Tulasi in Hinduism}}
''Tulasi'' may be planted in courtyards of Hindu houses or temples to Hanuman.<ref name="Simoons"/> The ritual lighting of lamps each evening during ''Kartik'' includes the worship of the ''tulsi'' plant.<ref name="Flood2003">{{Cite book|last=Flood|first=Gavin D. |author-link=Gavin Flood |title=The Blackwell companion to Hinduism|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2001 |page=331 |isbn=978-0-631-21535-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSfneQ0YYY8C&pg=PA331}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Hindu Mythology |last=Wilkins|first=W.J. |page=471 |publisher=D.K. Printworld |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-246-0234-8 |year=2003}}</ref> Vaishnavites are also known as "those who bear the'' tulsi'' around the neck".<ref name="Simoons">{{Cite book |last=Simoons|first=Frederick J.|title=Plants of life, plants of death |publisher=Univ of Wisconsin Press |year=1998 |pages=7–40 |isbn=978-0-299-15904-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KEUAbrBoeBAC&pg=PA14}}</ref>
''Tulasi Vivaha'' is a ceremonial festival performed between ''Prabodhini Ekadashi'' (the 11th or 12th lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartika) and ''Kartik Purnima'' (the full moon of the month).<ref name = underhill>{{cite book |author=Underhill, M. M. |title=The Hindu Religious Year |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fb9Zc0yPVUUC |year=1991 |pages= 129–131 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0523-7}}</ref><ref name="PawarPatil2008">{{cite book |author1=Pawar, Shubhangi |author2=Patil, D. A. |title=Ethnobotany of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTi0iaalLXcC&pg=PA401 |date= 2008 |pages=400 |publisher=Daya Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7035-515-1}}</ref> During the Kati Bihu festival celebrated in Assam, people light earthen lamps (''diya'') at the foot of the household tulsi plants.<ref>{{Cite web |vauthors=Kantak R |title=Kati Bihu celebrated in Assam |url=http://businessworld.in/article/Kati-Bihu-celebrated-in-Assam/18-10-2020-332770 |access-date=2022-06-09 |publisher=BW Businessworld |language=en}}</ref>
''Tulasi'' has been used in Ayurvedic and Siddha practices for its supposed medicinal properties.<ref>{{Cite book|last=NIIR Board, National Institute of Industrial Research (India)|title=Compendium of Medicinal Plants|publisher=National Institute of Industrial Research|series=2004|isbn=978-81-86623-80-0|page=320|year=2004}}</ref><ref name="BraunCohen2015">{{cite book|author1=Lesley Braun|author2=Marc Cohen|title=Herbs and Natural Supplements, Volume 2: An Evidence-Based Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y951BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA996|date=30 March 2015|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-7295-8173-8|page=996}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery widths="200" heights="180" mode="packed"> File:Ocimum tenuiflorum flower.jpg|Flowers File:Ocimum tenuiflorum inflorescence closeup.jpg|Inflorescence File:Tulsi 4 20170715.jpg|Leaves of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. File:Japa mala (prayer beads) of Tulasi wood with 108 beads - 20040101-01.jpg|Prayer beads made from ''tulsi'' wood File:Tulashithan at Kathmandu.jpg|Holy basil's monastery in a house in Kathmandu, Nepal
</gallery>
==See also== * Sacred trees * Sacred groves * Phat kaphrao * Tulsi Gabbard, named for the plant
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Ocimum tenuiflorum}}
{{Herbs & spices}} {{Worship in Hinduism}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q960124}}
Category:Herbs tenuiflorum Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Flora of China Category:Flora of Taiwan Category:Flora of the Marshall Islands Category:Flora of the Mariana Islands Category:Flora of Vanuatu Category:Flora of Queensland Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Indian spices Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus