Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part E (2025)

Medicinal plants have played a crucial role in shaping human civilization, serving as the foundation of healthcare practices across cultures and historical periods. They have long been used as primary sources of therapeutic agents, and even today, many modern pharmaceuticals are derived from these plants, underscoring their continued relevance in medicine. For thousands of years, medicinal herbs have been utilized not only to treat various diseases but also to preserve food, enhance flavor, and prevent the spread of infections, highlighting their multifaceted role in human health and daily life.
Among these valuable plants, Ocimum gratissimum, commonly known as clove basil or African basil, is widely distributed across India and renowned for its significant therapeutic potential. The plant contains a rich diversity of bioactive compounds, including essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and glycosides, which collectively contribute to its extensive pharmacological activities. Owing to these bioactive constituents, O. gratissimum is extensively used as a nutritional supplement and flavoring agent in both traditional and modern preparations throughout tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions.
Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that O. gratissimum exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory antidiabetic, antihelminthic, antidiarrheal, antiurolithiatic, antioxidant, antimutagenic, insecticidal, and anticancer effects. Despite its promising therapeutic profile, there is a pressing need for well-designed human clinical studies to establish its safety, efficacy, and optimal dosage, which would support its integration into evidence-based clinical applications. This review article aims to discuss the historical and traditional uses of Ocimum gratissimum, its bioactive constituents, therapeutic benefits, and to consolidate current knowledge regarding its botanical characteristics and ecological significance.