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Ocimum gratissimum

African basil
Starr 030202-0053 Ocimum gratissimum.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ocimum
Species: O. gratissimum
Binomial name
Ocimum gratissimum
(L.)

Ocimum gratissimum, also known as clove basil, African basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil, is a species of Ocimum. It is native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and the Bismarck Archipelago, and naturalized in Polynesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, West Indies, Brazil, and Bolivia.

O. gratissimum is a common culinary herb in West Africa and is used by some in the Caribbean, going by many local names.

Seeds seem to need strong sunlight to germinate.

The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum contains eugenol and shows some evidence of antibacterial activity. A polyherbal preparation of a water extract obtained from the leaves of Gongronema latifolia, Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum showed analgesic activity. The essential oil has potential for use as a food preservative, and is toxic to Leishmania. Extracts of the leaves are documented to possess antidiabetic properties, anti-hyperlipidemic effect and recently, it was shown to improve heamatological variables in experimental diabetes mellitus via its well reported antioxidant property.



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Wikipedia

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