HOLY BASIL - OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM - SEED

Date

February 27, 2026

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information

References: Proper name: USDA 2024; Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Common names: USDA 2024; Gardner and McGuffin 2013; API 1999; Source information: API 1999.

Route of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

This monograph excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms for oral use are indicated in the dosage form drop-down list of the web-based Product Licence Application form for Compendial applications.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

• Traditionally used in Ayurveda (as a demulcent) to help relieve cough (, such as Kasa) (Mishra 2004; Kapoor 2001; API 1999).
• Traditionally used in Ayurveda (as Hrdya,) a cardiotonic (API 1999).
• Traditionally used in Ayurveda (as Dipan,) to aid digestion (Dipani) (API 1999).

Notes

• The above uses can be combined on the product label if from the same traditional or non-traditional system of medicine (e.g., Traditionally used in Ayurveda as a demulcent to help relieve cough, such as Kasa, and as Hrdya, a cardiotonic).
• For multi-ingredient products:
  • To prevent the product from being represented as a “traditional medicine”, any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific medicinal ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Holy basil is traditionally used in Ayurveda as Dipan, to aid digestion).
  • When ALL of the medicinal ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Adults 18 years and older

Quantity(ies)

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Ethanolic Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract)

1 – 2 grams of dried seed, per day (Williamson 2002; Kapoor 2001; API 1999).

Direction(s) for use

No statement required.

Duration(s) of use

No statement required.

Risk information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

All products

• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you have a cardiovascular condition (Rai et al. 1997; Agrawal et al. 1996).
• Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician before use if you are taking any heart or blood pressure medication (Rai et al. 1997; Agrawal et al. 1996).

Relief of cough; Digestive aid

Ask a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician if symptoms persist or worsen.

Contraindication(s)

No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

EXAMPLE OF PRODUCT FACTS:

Consult the Guidance Document, Labelling of Natural Health Products for more details.

References cited

• Agrawal P, Rai V, Singh RB. Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1996;34(9):406-409.
• API 1999: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. 1^st edition, Part I, Volume I. Delhi (IN): The Controller of Publications; 1999.
• Gardner Z, McGuffin M, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 2^nd edition. Boca Ration (FL): Taylor and Francis Group; 2013.
• Kapoor LD. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. Baton Roca (FL): CRC Press LLC; 2001.
• Mishra LC, editor. Scientific Basis for Ayurvedia Therapies. Baton Roca (FL): CRC Press LLC; 2004.
• Rai V, Iyer U, Mani UV. Effect of Ocimum sanctum leaf powder on blood lipoproteins, glycated proteins and total amino acids in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. 1997;7(2):133-118.
• USDA 2024: United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS), Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) – Global. U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. [Accessed 2024 May 28]. Available from: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch
• Williamson EM, editor. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. Edinburgh (GB): Churchill Livingstone; 2002.

References reviewed

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• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Drug Information. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2005.
• Bhattacharyya D, Sur TK, Jana U, Debnath PK. Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders. Nepal Medical College Journal 2008;10(3):176-179.
• Bradley P. British Herbal Compendium – A handbook of scientific information on widely used plant drugs. (Volume 2) Bournemouth (GB): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.
• Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 4^th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 2010.
• Brinker F. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications; 2000.
• Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. [Accessed 2024 Juin 04]. Available from: https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/
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• Grover JK, Yadav S, Vats V. Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2002;82(1):81-100.
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• Kapoor S. Ocimum sanctum: A therapeutic role in diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Hormone and Metabolic Research 2008;40:296.
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• Miller R, Miller S. Tulsi Queen of Herbs: India's Holy Basil. The Green Isle Enterprise: Salt Spring Island (BC); 2003.
• Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
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