Niazboo (Ocimum basilicum) commonly known as sweet basil is a popular herbaceous plant belongs to Lamiaceae family widely used for flavoring and medicinal purposes.
By Khadeeja Saleem, Athar Mahmood, Muhammad Adnan Iqbal
Introduction:
It is an annual herb, 20-60 cm plant height with white and pink flowers and characterized by great morphological and chemical diversity. The useful parts of the plants are leaves and seeds, these highly aromatic leaves used either fresh or dried for spice. It comprises 65 species, adapted to grow in warm conditions and originally it is native to India and other countries of Asia
History
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) “a medicinal plant is plant which, in one or more of its organs, contains substance that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis”.
Herbal medicines have a well-defined place from prehistoric times.Historically the different medicinal plants used from food.Various countries, Greek medicine, which then to Arabs and then spread to India and Europe but still this system of medication is serving about 80% of world population. Pakistan is an enriched ecological zonethe importance of medicinal flora, in which medicinal plants have been used as traditional medicine for human health care as well as animals. Nearly six thousand species of flowering plants have been reported in Pakistan including Kashmir. While 2,000 species have been reported as medicinal plants but only a small portion is being processed on commercial bases. Most of the allopathic drugs are being extracted from the medicinal plants. About 80% of the population of Pakistan is using these plants as traditional medicine but due to lake of exposure these species are limited to the native area, almost 90% of the population of remote areas is dependent on these plant Due to their limited side effect and easily available in nature.
Medicinal uses:
Basil’s healing and healthful properties have been the most treasured knowledge across the world. Holy basil is revered for its strong medicinal and healing properties. One can still see basil plants outside many Indian households, even outside the clamped urban flats. Holy basil is offered to Gods in the form of prasad. Some say, that it is prohibited to even chew the holy basil leaves; one is supposed to swallow it at one go. Basil forms an intrinsic part of various curries and stews. There are significant botanical differences in various types of basil plants. The many varied species of basil include: sweet basil, lemon basil, Italian or curly basil, holy basil,
Sweet basil has many importance medicinal uses such as
- fever
- cough
- common cold
- vaginal swelling
- pimples
- tuber closes
- asthma
- piles
- malaria
- heart diseases.
Islamic point view medicinal importance
And grain with husk and fray. rant flowers. References from Holy Quran Verse #. 12 Surah Al Rahman.
References from Ahadith :
Trimzi (Bab ulTib) [14].
Al-Jozi (Aljawziyya), Ibn-ulQayyim. ZadulMaad [10]
Economical importance:
- Antidepressant
- Antiseptic
- Stimulant
- Carminative
- Diaphoretic
- Diuretic
- Expectorant
- Aromatic
- Tonic
- Seeds used in syrups in summer season and it is a household remedy for heat.
- It is also used in ring worms and gonorrhea.
- Leaves decoction is used in bronchitis and low blood pressure
- It is very beneficial for cold, fever, cough, diarrhea and also useful to reduced tonic for stomach.
- Decoction of root is used in malarial fever.
- Leaves are useful to treated infection of mouth as well as in ulcers.
Perfumes
Many plants contain abundant volatile aromatic oils, such as thymole (Thymus), Lavender oil (Levendula), Rosemary oil (Rosemarinus) etc.
Ornamental Plants
Some species of Salvia (sage) such as S.coccinea and S. officinalis are cultivated for their beautiful scarlet-red flowers and Coleus for its variegated colored leaves.
Health benefits of basils
- Sharpen memory
- Combating colds, flu, and the herpes
- Eliminate infections
- Antibacterial properties
- Relieve in asthma
- Antistress agent
- In diet
- Herbal medicine
- Essential oil
Traditional uses
- Treatment of snakebite
- Colds
- Inflammation nasal passages
- Basil provides macronutrients are calcium and vitamin K.
Auhtors: Khadeeja Saleem, Athar Mahmood, Muhammad Adnan Iqbal University of Agriculture Faisalabad