The African Blue Basil Health Wonder

The African blue basil originated from the Old World: Central Africa and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the species Ocimum basilicum L in the family of Lamiaceae. It is cultivated as a culinary herb, condiment or spice. It is a source of essential oil for use in foods, flavors and fragrances. It is also grown as an ornamental.

It is an annual herb cultivated extensively in France, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco and the United States. Basil is cultivated for the fresh market as a culinary herb, as a condiment or spice in the dried frozen form and a source of aromatic essential oil for use in foods, flavors and fragrances and as a potted herb and bedding plant.

None from the plant or plant extract reported of toxicities though some lines of basil contain the polypropanoid, methyl chavicol, which is under review as a possible carcinogen. Traditionally, African blue basil has been used as a medicinal plant in treatment of headaches, coughs, diarrhea, constipation, warts, worms and kidney malfunction. It is also thought to be antispasmodic, stomach ache carminative stimulant and insect repellant. The oils of basil, especially the camphor-containing oil have anti-bacterial properties. Volatile compounds produced by sweet basil have been shown to influence the composition, distribution and spore germination of some fungal populations. The volatile terpenes camphor and 1.8 cineole present in basil and other members of the Lamiacae have been suggested as agents in allelopathic reactions.

The essential oil of basil extracted from the leaves is also use for flavoring. Apart from food, it is also used by the dental care industry, cosmetic and the perfume industry. Basil’s therapeutic properties are as a result of phyto-chemicals. These phyto-chemicals notably oleoresin are antioxidants, anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents and strengthen the immune system.

The therapeutic uses of African blue basil are many. It is brewed as an infusion and as teas to treat colds, coughs, fevers, stomach aches and cramps, vomiting, constipation, as a relaxant for nervous hysteria and for kidney and urinary complaints. Basil also apparently eases nausea. Basil acts as an expectorant and clears the throat and lungs. The juice of the leaves can be used for treatment of ear aches and fungal infection. It is also used as an insecticide and as a disinfectant.

African blue basil has a strong camphor smell because it has camphor and camphene in higher proportions. It has been used medicinally for a variety of conditions including bronchitis, the common cold, influenza, muscle pain and insect bites. The seed are used for their medicinal properties in Ayurveda, the traditional system of India.

Indeed African blue basil is a versatile wonder.