Medicinal Herb Tulsi ( Ocimum Sanctum)

[seetharam annadana]

Medicinal Herb
Tulsi ( Ocimum Sanctum)

Ocimum sanctum (holy basil), called Tulsi in India, is ubiquitous in Hindu tradition. Perhaps its role as a healing herb was instrumental in its "sacred" implication. Ocimum sanctum(Tulsi) is perhaps the most common and most revered of all household plants in India. Tulsi is an erect sweet -scented pubescent herb, 30-100cm in height , growing in abundance near cultivated field gardens and waste lands. Its leaves, seeds ands whole plant is useful. Properties - Rasa -Katu( sharp) Tikta (bitter) , Virya -Ushna(hot) ,Vipak -Katu (sharp) Ayurvedic practice recommends Tulsi in several formulations to enhance immunity and metabolic functions as well as in the management of respiratory problems (Shwas -Kasa).


Chemical Constituents - A variety of biologically active compounds have been isolated from the leaves including ursolic acid, apigenin and luteolin.
Pharmacological Effects – In traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine,several medicinal properties have been attributed to this plant.
Recent pharmacological studies have established the anabolic, hypoglycemic , smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac depressant,antifertility,adaptogenic and immunomodulator properties of this plant. Antimicrobial effects – Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial,antifungal and antiviral properties.It inhibites the growthof E coli, B.anthracis, M.tuberculosis etc. It's antitubercular activity is one-tenth the potency of streptomycin and one-fourth that of isoniazid.
Preperations containing Tulsi extract significantly shorten the course of illness, clinical symptoms and the biochemical parameters in patients with viral hepatitis and viral encephalitis. Antimalarial effects – Essential oil of Tulsi has been reported to possess 100% larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes. Trials have shown excellent antimalarial activity of Tulsi. It's extracts have marked incecticidal activity against mosquitoes.It's repellant action lasts for about two hours Antiallergic and Immunomodulator effects - Essential oil of Tulsi was found to have anti-allergic properties. When administered to laboratory animals, the compound was found to inhibit mast cell degranulation and histamine release in the presence of allergen. These studies reveal the potential role of Ocimum sanctum extracts in the management of immunological disorders including allergies and asthma. Antistress/Adaptogenic effects - Extracts from the plant have been found to reduce stress. Antifertility effect – One of the major constituents of the leaves,ursolic acid has been reported to possess antifertility activity in rats and mice,This effect has been attributed to it's antiestrogenic effectwhich may be responsible for arrest of spermatogenesis in males and inhibitory effecton implantation of ovum in females.This constituent may prove to be a promising antifertility agent devoid of side effects. Anti diabetic effect - A randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over single blind trial on 40 human volunteers suffering from Type II diabetes was performed. During the four week trial, subjects alternately received a daily dose of 2.5 g of Tulsi leaves powder or a placebo for two week periods. The results showed 17.6 % reduction in fasting blood glucose and 7.3% decline in postprandial blood glucose on treatment with Tulsi as compared to the blood glucose levels during treatment with placebo For Heart ailments - As 'Tulsi' (basil) has a positive effect over blood pressure and also a de-toxicant, its regular use prevents heart attacks. A tonic may be prepared by mixing 1 gm of dry 'Tulsi' leaves with a spoonful of butter and some candy sugar or honey.Take twice a day; first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night. The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps the blood pressure even Other effects - The leaves in the form of a paste are used in parasitical diseases of the skin and also applied to the finger and toe nails during fever when the limbs are cold. The juice of the leaves is given in catarrh and bronchitis in children. The plant is said to have carminative, diaphoretic and stimulant properties. A decoction of the plant is used for cough and also as mouth wash for relieving tooth ache. It is good for headache, convulsions, cramps, fevers and cholera.
The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps one free from cough and colds and other ailments associated with 'Kapha' dosha in the body.
This tea is an instant pick-me-up (energy drink) also.
References –
1. Barghava, K.P and Singh, N. (1981). Ind. J. Med. Res. 73:443-451.

2. Rajasekaran, M. et al. (1989). J. Drug Dev. 2(3):179-182.

3. Banerjee, S. et al. (1996). Nutr. Cancer, 25(2):205-17.

4. Agarwal, P. et al. (1996) Int. J.Clin.Pharmacol. Ther., 34(9):406-9.

Read more at http://www.omorganics.com/Tulsi23Jul03.pdf

[k.sundararaju]

Dear sir,
we are the cultivator of tulsi (ocimum sanctum).
we are supply dried leaves only.stumps are waste.we know the stumps are used in pesticide companies for produce the pesticide.but we do not know whom is the buyer?.can you help us to reach the buyer?.and
what is the maximum & minimum price of tulsi leaves?
where is mostly demand of tulsi leaves?
Thanking you
K.SUNDARARAJU

[satyanarayan gupta]

Hello Sir
Here is some information about Tulsi
You can contact the below address for more information

National Institute of Industrial Research (NIIR), 106-E, Kamla Nagar, New Delhi-110007, India. Email: niir@vsnl.com Website: NIIR.org


TULSI
Ocimiun sanctum Linn.

Family-Laniaceae

An annual plant, 30-60 cm high, much branched; stem and branches usually purplish, sub-quadrangular; leaves 2.5-5 by 1.6-3.2cm, elliptic oblong-obtuse, pubescent on both side and minutely gland-dotted. Flowers are in racemes.

REGIONAL NAMES
English Holy Basil
Bengali Tulsi
Gujarati Tulsi
Hindi Kata tulsi, tuls
Kannada Vishnu Tulasi, Kari Tulasi, Sri Tulsi
Malayalam Tulasi
Marathi Tulasa, Tulasi chajadha
Tamil Thulasi
Telugu Tulasi, Krishna tulasi, kari tulasi, sri tulasi

DISTRIBUTION
Found thought India.

Part Used: Whole plant

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES & USES
The drug has numerous pharmacological activities like hypoglycaemic, immunomodulalory, anti-stress, antiulcerogenic, anti hypertensive, CNS depressant, radioprotective, antitumour and antibacterial. Tulsi is aromatic, carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and expectorant. It has been found to be very effective in treatment of viral encephalitis and tropical pulmonary, eosinophilia in children. The plant is also used in snakebite & scorpion sting.

CULTIVATION & PROPAGATION
Soil and Climate

Thrives well on variety of soils. Rich loam to poor laterite, saline and alkaline to moderately acidic soils are well suited for its cultivation. Well-drained soil helps better vegetative growth. Water logged condition can cause root-rot and result in stunted growth.

The plant can be grown under partially shaded conditions but with low oil content. It flourishes well under moderate rainfall and humid conditions. Long days and high temperatures have been found favourable for plant growth and oil production. Topical and sub-topical climate (at attitudes upto 900m) is suited for its cultivation.

Land And Preparation

The land is brought to fine tilth and laid out into plots of convenient sizes for irrigation. It is preferable to add 15 tonnes of farmyard manure per hectare during the preparation of land and mixed well with the soil.

Nursery Raising and Planting

The nursery can be raised in the third week of February and transplantation is generally started by mid April. Seeds are used for propagation. Raised seedbeds of 15" x 4'9" size should be thoroughly prepared and well manured by addition of farmyard manure. About 200-300g seeds are enough to raise the seedlings for planting one hectare of land. The seed should be sown 2cm below in the nursery beds. The seeds germinate in 8-12 days and the seedlings with 4-5 leaves are ready for transplantation in about 6 weeks. The seedlings are transplanted at 40 ? 40cm and 40 ? 50cm to get high herbage and oil yield per hectare.

Weeding and Hoeing

First weeding is done after one month after planting and the second four weeks after the first. One hoeing after two months of planting is sufficient.

Manure/Fertilizer

Compost/Vermi compost and organic manure is preferred.

Irrigation

Irrigation depends upon the moisture content of soil. In summer three irrigations per month are necessary and in rainy season no irrigation is required. About 12-15 irrigations are enough during the year.

HARVESTING/POST HARVESTING OPERATION
The crop is harvested at full bloom. The first harvest is obtained after 90-95 days. Then it may be harvested at every 65-75 days interval. Harvesting is done usually on bright sunny days for good oil yield and quality. It is not desirable to harvest the crop if there was rain in the previous day.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Major Constituents

Eugenol


It contains phenolics such as carvacrol and eugenol; non-phenolics such as methyl eugenol, methyl chavicol and caryophyllene etc. The flavonoids include apigenin, luteolin, vicenin-2, orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, cirsilineol, isothymusin, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid.

Petroleum extract of the Leaves found to contain beta-carotene, sterols and fatty acids. Triglyceride, l,3-Dilinoleneoyl-2-palmitin also been reported.

Active Constituents

Of all the Ocimum species, O. sanctum is most widely studied for its pharmacological properties. Traditionally, it has been used as diaphoretic, expectorant and hepatoprotective. It has been studied for its immunomodulatory, anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, radioprotective. Its anti-ulcer and anthelmintic activities also been reported. It has also been studied for chemopreventive, anti-cryptococcus and cardioprotective activities.

Analytical Profile

TLC of Tulasi oil (obtained by steam distillation) shows eugenol and carrypphyllence Rf values 0.7 and caryophyllence runs to solvent front giving orange brown and reddish violet respectively, standards matching with the oil at given Rf of standards. Plate was developed in mobile phase Toluene: Ethylacetate (93:7) and plate Silica gel 'G'.

YIELD
About 5 tonnes of fresh herbage can be obtained twice or thrice a year per hectare.

SUBSTITUTES/ADULTERANTS
The leaves of other species of Ocimum are often adulterated with the genuine drug.

ECONOMICS
Input cost per hectare Rs. 3,750/-
Out put cost per hectare Rs. 12,500/-
Net income per hectare Rs 8,750/-


Satya

[k.sundararaju]

Dear sir,
Thank you for your more information about tulsi(ocimum sanctum).
k.sundararaju

[suryanarmada]

Dear Sir

You can contact the following email

porzhi@gmail.com

who is also interested in tulsi in Dindigul.

Regards
Surya Narmada

[ayurganga]

Dear sir,
we are the cultivator of tulsi (ocimum sanctum).
we are supply dried leaves only.stumps are waste.we know the stumps are used in pesticide companies for produce the pesticide.but we do not know whom is the buyer?.can you help us to reach the buyer?.and
what is the maximum & minimum price of tulsi leaves?
where is mostly demand of tulsi leaves?
Thanking you
K.SUNDARARAJU

Dear Mr. Sundararaju

We want fresh Tulsi Leaves. If interested please send us a mail.
Naveen

[kirti s]

Dear Sir

S. V. M. Exports, Tuticorin
33/1, Muthaliar West Street Eral,
Tuticorin,
Tamil Nadu, India, 628 002. View Catalog

Shine Exports, Trichirappalli
Maruthamuthu Lane, Thuraiyur,
Trichirappalli,
Tamil Nadu, India, 621 010.
Contact all Selected Companies

Energy Plantations Projects India Private Limited, Sivaganga
6/21, Aladiyan Koil Street,
Sivaganga,
Tamil Nadu, India, 623 556.

Ansar Industries, Surat
4/3367, H.K.Street Zampa Bazar,
Surat,
Gujarat, India, 395 003.

Sai Phytoceuticals Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
S-553, Greater Kailash Part - II,
New Delhi,
Delhi, India, 110048. View Catalog

Kirti

[mukeshs]

We buy tulasi leaves 50 tons anually.
please send your best offer

[dkmurali]

would you be kind enough to give the telephone numbers of buyers of krishna tulasi seeds and oil.

regards

my email dkmuralihyd@gmail.com

[dkmurali]

we have cultivated and stam distilled occimum sanctum basil oils in our farm ar hyderabad.

we have 6 kgs of oil 100 kgs of seeds. interested buyers pl email to dkmuralihyd@gmail.com or cell 09704388818

d k murali