Chapter 1 Introduction

One of the main complementary and alternative medicine systems, Ayurveda is an ancient
Hindu medical system that originated in India (Patwardhan et al., 2005). Ayurveda, often
referred to as the "Science of Life," is an ancient and holistic system of medicine that traces
its roots back to the Indian subcontinent. With a history spanning thousands of years,
Ayurveda has evolved into a comprehensive system that not only addresses physical ailments
but also emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. Plants are the main
source of therapies in contemporary complementary and alternative medicine, and every part
of the plant, including the seeds, root, stem, leaves, and fruit, may contain bioactive
components (Jiang et al., 2014, 2015). Herbal plant extracts are highly beneficial and one of
the main sources of medication. They are essential for controlling many disease kinds and for
stimulating cell growth (Doss, 2009). Medicinal plant extracts have become a viable
substitute due to their abundance of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, alkaloids,
phenolics, and tannins. These metabolites support various biological processes, including
growth, innate immunity, and resistance to disease caused by pathogenic bacteria in humans
and other organisms. Secondary metabolites such as tannins, phenolics, alkaloids and
flavonoids etc which enhances growth, innate immune response and disease resistance
against pathogenic bacteria in human as well as in different organisms (Edoga et al., 2005).
One such plant that is of immense benefit is Ocimum sanctum.

Figure 1.1: Leaves of Ocimum sanctum

Ocimum sanctum L., commonly referred to as Ocimum tenuiflorum or Tulsi, has been utilised
for thousands of years in Ayurveda due to its many therapeutic qualities. One of the most
revered and sacred of the various orient's healing and health-giving plants is Tulsi, the Queen
of herbs and the legendary "Incomparable one" of India. Famous for its religious and spiritual

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holiness, the sacred basil, or Tulsi, plays a significant part in the Eastern herbal medicine and
holistic health systems of Ayurveda and Unani. In the Ayurvedic classic known as the
Charaka Samhita, Charaka makes reference to it (Warrior, 1995).

Ocimum sanctum (holy basil), is a fragrant perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae
family. Originating from the Indian subcontinent, this plant is widely grown in the tropical
regions of Southeast Asia (Banerjee et al., 1996). The genus contains about thirty species,
such as the Indian variant of Tulsi (O. tenuiflorum) and culinary basil (O. basilicum L.)
(Paton, 1992). There are two varieties of Tulsi: Krishna Tulsi, also known as dark holy basil,
is a plant with dark purple or purplish leaves that have a sharp, peppery flavour and dark
stems. The therapeutic properties of dark holy basil are well known. Compared to light holy
basil, it has smaller leaves. Other variety of holy basil is Light Holy Basil, also known as
Rama Tulsi, is the most widely grown type of holy basil. Green leaves and white-purple
blooms adorn light holy basil, which also has a green or purplish stem. Holy basil is well-
known for its mellow, calming flavour in the light colour type. The leaves of light holy basil
are larger than those of dark holy basil (Das et al., 2006).

Ocimum sanctum L., often known as tulsi, is an upright, heavily branched sub-shrub that
grows to a height of 30 to 60 cm. It has hairy stems and, opposite green or purple leaves that
have a pungent aroma. Petioles are present on ovate leaves that can grow up to 5 cm long and
are typically somewhat serrated. Purple flowers are arranged in closely spaced whorls of
elongated racemes. Interior of sepal cup is not hairy. Rarely do flowers extend over 5 mm,
and the calyx tube is bearded close to the base. The tube of the flower has hairs. The seeds
range in colour from yellow to reddish, and the fruits are tiny (Buddhadev et al., 2014).

It is grown for its essential oil as well as for religious and therapeutic purposes. Many Hindu
religious traditions associate the plant tulsi with a goddess figure, making it a significant
symbol. An essential oil found in the leaves includes carvacrol, methylchavicol, limatrol,
eugenol, and caryophylline. The oil in the seeds is made up of sitosterol and fatty acids.
Sitosterol and the three triterpenes are found in the roots. Additionally, ursolic acid and n-
triacontanol are present in the leaves. In essential oil, eugenol, its methyl ether, nerol,
caryophyllene, terpinen 4-decylaldehyde, selinene, pinenes, camphene, and a-pinene have all
been identified. It also contains other ingredients like citral, methyl chavicol, linalool,
thymol, and rosmarinic acid (Dhar et al., 1968). Many substances, including saponins,
flavonoids, triterpenoids, and tannins, are present in the stem and leaves of holy basil and

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may have biological activity. Two flavonoids, orientin and vicenin, have been identified from
the aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum (Gupta et al., 2002).

One of the most potent herbs, tulsi is used to cure a wide range of illnesses, including those
affecting the skin, central nervous system, respiratory, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems
(Winston and Maimes, 2007). Traditionally, tulsi has been used to treat a number of
conditions, including anxiety and depression, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, diarrhoea, eye
conditions (such as glaucoma, cataracts, and chronic conjunctivitis), fever, bug and snake
bites, malaria, and a range of skin conditions (Chatterjee et al., 2011) (Cohen, 2014).
Additionally, tulsi is reported to possess antidiabetic, anticancer, antifertility, antifungal,
antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic, adaptogenic, and hepatoprotective qualities (Prakash and
Gupta, 2005) (Srichok et al., 2022). Its effectiveness against the new SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus and its usage in chemotherapy have also been investigated (Luke et al., 2021)
(Prajapati et al., 2022). These pharmacological effects aid in the restoration of physiological
and psychological function as well as the body's ability to deal with a variety of chemical,
physical, viral, and emotional stressors.

In tropical and warm climates, tulsi grows wild. The plant is grown and distributed all over
India. Tulsi is regarded as an adaptogen, helping the body adjust to stress and harmonising
many bodily systems. Known for its potent scent and sharp flavour, it is considered a type of
"elixir of life" in Ayurveda, where it is said to extend life (Biswas and Biswas, 2005). Many
conditions can be treated at home with tulsi, including wounds, bronchitis, liver diseases,
catarrhal fever, ophthalmia, lumbago, hiccough, stomach disorders, genitourinary disorders,
skin diseases, poisonings of all kinds, and psychological stress disorders (Das and Vasudevan,
2006). Additionally, it possesses qualities that are aromatic, stomachic, carminative,
demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, alexiteric, vermifuge, and febrifuge (Gupta et
al., 2002) (Harsa et al., 2003).

The World Health Organisation states that the greatest place to find a wide range of
medications is from medicinal plants. Approximately 80% of people in developed nations use
traditional medicine, which contains substances derived from therapeutic plants. To learn
more about these plants' characteristics, safety, and effectiveness, further research should be
done on them (PRV et al., 1995). The present study aims to determine the phytochemical
constituents and antimicrobial activity of Ocimum sanctum.

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Aim: To analyse the phytochemical properties and antibacterial potential of aqueous and
methanolic extract of leaves of Ocimum sanctum “Queen of herbs”.

Objectives:

1. To prepare various extracts and to investigate the antibacterial activity using agar well
diffusion method and MIC assay.

2. Partial characterization of various phytocomponents using TLC and FTIR techniques.

3. Qualitative assessment of phytochemicals.

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