Holy Basil

- Scientific name: Latin name Ocimum sanctum
- Also known as tulsi or holy Thai basilTelegraph: Fight the Effects of Ageing (September 8, 2008)
- In India the herb is traditionally grown in an earthenware pot in homes and gardensTelegraph: Fight the Effects of Ageing (September 8, 2008)
- Grows in full sun and partial shade, soil should be well drained
- An annual herb, grows up to 18 inches tall and can grow into a low bush

Native to India, Holy basil is an herb common in Asian foods. Closely related to the sweet basil traditionally used in Western and European cooking, Holy basil has sharp-tasting leaves.
Holy basil extract is used in the ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine which is frequently practiced in India and other parts of Asia as a rejuvenation drug.
In 2008, a research study found that holy basil extract was effective at protecting against free radicals. Free radicals are cancer-causing chemicals which can attack organs such as the heart, liver and brain as well as damage genes and nerve cells.Telegraph: Fight the Effects of Ageing (September 8, 2008)
Research

Dr. Vaibhav Shinde from Poona College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, India, led the first formal study of holy basil. The pharmacy researchers studied the herb for anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties and found that holy basil extract was effective at protecting against free radicals.The results of the study were at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester.Telegraph: Fight the Effects of Ageing (September 8, 2008)
Quotes
- "The study validates the traditional use of herb as a youth-promoting substance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also helps describe how the herb acts at a cellular level.We have had some very exciting results. I am now using holy basil in my own cooking and I hope it will be beneficial."—Dr. Vaibhav ShindeTelegraph: Fight the Effects of Ageing (September 8, 2008)

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