The Mint Family

Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons

• Importance of Ayurveda
• counter metabolic stress through normalization of blood glucose
• unique combination of pharmacological actions that promote well-being and resilience
• phenolic compounds and anti-oxidant properties
• Overview, did not use all conclusive research, though promising

Potential Anti-inflammatory Properties of Crude Alcoholic Extract of Ocimum basilicum L. in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: a short review.

• Basil used widely in India for anti-inflammatory properties, prescribed holistically
• Ayurvedic preparation
• Eugenol- "active ingredient" combat malaria, shorten the course of illness, anti-fungal
• Further study is needed
• Review of already available literature

• Non-cytotoxic concentration of O. labiatum extract significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines(p < 0.05)
• Promising research into creating naturally derived anti-inflammatory drugs
• Conducted through Cytometric Bead Array
• Limitations: Not actual use in the body, only in lab samples

Lamiaceae Family

• Flowering Plants
• Angiosperms
• 236 genera
• 3,200+ subspecies
• Found worldwide

The Lamiaceae Family

http://www.almanac.com/plant/mint

http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Lamiaceae/

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/lami.htm

http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Families/Lamiaceae.htm

http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/mt_mints.html

http://www.ourherbgarden.com/herb-history/basil.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16563357

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16170979

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16469363

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4335562/

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/from-lab-to-lunch-basil.pdf

http://beautybanter.com/diy-basil-face-wash

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/

Brittney Cullen

"The King of Herbs"

• First written about in Egypt 4,000 years ago
• Sacred Indian Basil was considered a "protector," planted around temples
• Iran, Malaysia and Egypt often planted on graves
• Ancient Greece and Rome associated with poverty
• 1500s- some physicians believed that by simply smelling basil scorpions would grow in the brain
• Introduced to Britain in the 16th century, brought to N. America

Most Common Species

Mostly Aromatic Culinary Herbs

• oregano
• hyssop
• thyme
• lavender
• perilla

• basil
• mint
• rosemary
• sage
• savory
• marjoram

Anatomical Characteristics

Tulsi

Holy Basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum

• Use the leaves, flowers & stems
• Culinary dishes as a spice
• Teas
• Stomach upset
• Stir Fry dishes
• Sacred Hindu Plant

• Aromatic
• Stem
• most grow around 2' in height
• Square, simple
• Leaves
• opposite or whorled
• stipules (leaf-like appendage) are absent
• Flowers
• bisexual
• zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
• two-lipped, open-mouthed, united petals

Acanthomintha

Achyrospermum

Acinos

Acrotome

Acrymia

Aegiphila

Aeolanthus

Aeollanthus

Agastache

Ajuga

Ajugoides

Alajja

Alvesia

Amasonia

Amethystea

Anisochilus

Anisomeles

Asterohyptis

Ballota

Basilicum

Benguellia

Betonica

Blephilia

Bostrychanthera

Brachysola

Brazoria

Bystropogon

Callicarpa

Capitanopsis

Caryopteris

Catoferia

Catopheria

Cedronella

Chaiturus

Chamaesphacos

Chaunostoma

Chelonopsis

Chloanthes

Cleonia

Clerodendrum

× Clinomicromeria

Clinopodium

Colebrookea

Coleus

Collinsonia

Colquhounia

Comanthosphace

Congea

Conradina

Cornutia

Craniotome

Cuminia

Cunila

Cyanostegia

Cyclotrichium

Cymaria

Dauphinea

Dicerandra

Dicrastylis

Discretitheca

Dorystaechas

Dracocephalum

Drepanocaryum

Elsholtzia

Endostemon

Eremostachys

Eriope

Eriophyton

Eriothymus

Eurysolen

Fabricia

Faradaya

Fuerstia

Galeopsis

Garrettia

Glechoma

Glechon

Glossocarya

Gmelina

Gomphostemma

Gontscharovia

Gumira

Hanceola

Haplostachys

Haumaniastrum

Hedeoma

Hemiandra

Hemigenia

Hemiphora

Hemistegia

Hesperozygis

Heterolamium

Hoehnea

Holmskioldia

Holocheila

Holostylon

Horminum

Hosea

Hoslundia

Huxleya

Hymenocrater

Hymenopyramis

Hypenia

Hypogomphia

Hyptidendron

Hyptis

Hyssopus

Isodon

Isoleucas

Kalaharia

Karomia

Killickia

Kudrjaschevia

Kurzamra

Lachnostachys

Lagochilus

Lagopsis

Lallemantia

Lamium

Lavandula

Leonotis

Leonurus

Lepechinia

Leucas

Leucosceptrum

Lophanthus

Loxocalyx

Lycopus

Macbridea

Madlabium

Marmoritis

Marrubium

Marsypianthes

Matsumurella

Meehania

Melissa

Melittis

Mentha

Meriandra

Metastachydium

Microcorys

Micromeria

Microtoena

Minthostachys

Moluccella

Monarda

Monardella

Monochilus

Mosla

Neoeplingia

Nepeta

Newcastelia

Nosema

Notochaete

Obtegomeria

Ocimum

Ombrocharis

Oncinocalyx

Origanum

Orthosiphon

Otostegia

Oxera

Panzerina

Paralamium

Paraphlomis

Paravitex

Peltodon

Pentapleura

Perilla

Perillula

Peronema

Perovskia

Petitia

Petraeovitex

Phlomidoschema

Phlomis

Phyllostegia

Physopsis

Physostegia

Piloblephis

Pityrodia

Platostoma

Plectranthus

Pogogyne

Pogostemon

Poliomintha

Prasium

Premna

Prostanthera

Prunella

Pseuderemostachys

Pseudocarpidium

Pseudocaryopteris

Pseudochamaesphacos

Pseudomarrubium

Pycnanthemum

Pycnostachys

Renschia

Rhabdocaulon

Rhaphiodon

Rhododon

Rosmarinus

Rostrinucula

Rotheca

Roylea

Rubiteucris

Rydingia

Saccocalyx

Salvia

Satureja

Schnabelia

Scutellaria

Sideritis

Siphocranion

Solenostemon

Spartothamnella

Sphenodesme

Stachydeoma

Stachyopsis

Stachys

Stenogyne

Sulaimania

Suzukia

Symphorema

Symphostemon

Synandra

Syncolostemon

Tectona

Teijsmanniodendron

Tetradenia

Teucridium

Teucrium

Thorncroftia

Thuspeinanta

Thymbra

Thymus

Tinnea

Trichostema

Tripora

Tsoongia

Vitex

Viticipremna

Volkameria

Warnockia

Wenchengia

Westringia

Wrixonia

Zataria

Zhumeria

Ziziphora

Growing Conditions

• Perennials- re-occuring growth
• Light Soil with drainage (along stream banks)
• Not full sun
• Planted a few feet apart
• Minimal care (mulching, watering, top-dress with compost)

Medicinal Uses

counteract snake/

scorpion bites

applied to the skin

for ringworm

heart disease

fever

viral hepatitis

malaria

stress

tuberculosis

common cold

influenza ("the flu")

H1N1 (swine) flu

diabetes

asthma

bronchitis

earache

headache

stomach upset

mercury poisoning

promote longevity

mosquito repellent

Side Effects

Mostly safe for all people.

Contraindications:

-Gastritis

-Dermatitis

-Digestive Ulcers

Drug interactions?

In large medicinal amounts it affects:

Pregnant women & Children:

-contains estragole, liver cancer in mice

Bleeding disorders/Low BP:

-Lowers BP

-Slows clotting factors

Further Study is Needed