Ethanopharmacological and Phytochemical Aspects of Ocimum sanctum Linn- The Elixir of Life

Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Tulsi), a sacred and traditional medicinal plant of India which belongs to the family Lamiaceae possesses innumerable health benefits and therefore regarded as the “Elixir of Life”. The entire plant body including its leaves, stem, root, inflorescence and seed are proved to be significant medicinal value and hence it is one among the inevitable plant used in the preparation of various ayurvedic pharmacological products. The plant is a rich source of various components including eugenol, Vicenin2, linoleic acid, oleic acid, rosmarinic acid, Ocimarin, isorientin, orientin, isovitexin, aesculectin, aesculin, chlorgrnic acid, galuteolin, circineol, gallic acid, Citronellal, Camphene, Sabinene, Dimethyl benzene, Myrecene, Ethyl benzene, Limocene, Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorous and many more. The plant truly deserves the title ‘Elixir of Life’ due to its Ethanopharmacological properties such as Antidiabetic, Anticancerous, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Radiopreotective, Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial, Immunomodulatory effect, cardioprotective, Anticoagulant, Antifertility, Antioxidant, Neuroprotective and the line-up found to be multitudinous. This review elucidates indepth literature survey particularly focussing the phytochemical constituents of Tulsi as well as extrapolating its Ethanopharmacological property. Research Article British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 3(2): 273-292, 2013 274