Basil

At a glance

Origin / distribution: India(Santal), Panama(Cuna), India(Gujarat), Malaya, China, Venezuela, Turkey, Africa

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Ear), Ache(Head), Alexiteric, Anasarca

Science studied: ACETIC-ACID, ESCULETIN, ESCULIN, CIS-ALLO-OCIMENE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Lamiaceae

Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum

Common names: Basil, Sweet Basil, Cuban Basil, Albaca, Albahaca, Albahaca blanca, Albahaca dulce, Albaraka, Alfàbrega, Asubiote, Basielkruid, Basilic, Basilic aux sauces, Basilic commun, Basilic, Basilic commun, Basilic à épis nombreux, Basilic commun, Ocime basilic, Basilic aux sauces, Basilic romain, Herbe royale, Pistou, Basilico, Basilicum

POWO: 452874-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in India(Santal), Panama(Cuna), Elsewhere, India(Gujarat), Malaya, China, Venezuela, Turkey and 14 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Ear)
• Ache(Head)
• Alexiteric
• Anasarca
• Antidote(Alcohol)
• Antiphlogistic
• Aphrodisiac
• Asthma

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• India(Santal)
• Panama(Cuna)
• Elsewhere
• India(Gujarat)
• Malaya
• China
• Venezuela
• Turkey
• Africa
• Iraq
• Salvador
• Greece

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Ear)
• Ache(Head)
• Alexiteric
• Anasarca
• Antidote(Alcohol)
• Antiphlogistic
• Aphrodisiac
• Asthma
• Bite(Dog)
• Bite(Snake)
• Cancer(Stomach)
• Carminative

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Ear) · India(Santal) · "
• Ache(Ear) · Panama(Cuna) · "
• Ache(Head) · India(Santal) · "
• Alexiteric · Elsewhere · "
• Anasarca · India(Santal) · "
• Antidote(Alcohol) · India(Gujarat) · "
• Antiphlogistic · Elsewhere · "
• Aphrodisiac · Elsewhere · "
• Asthma · Malaya · "
• Bite(Dog) · India(Santal) · "
• Bite(Snake) · China · "
• Bite(Snake) · India(Santal) · "
• Cancer(Stomach) · Venezuela · "
• Carminative · Turkey · "
• Carminative · Elsewhere · "
• Cephalgia · Elsewhere · "
• Cholera · India(Santal) · "
• Circulation · China · "
• Colic · Elsewhere · "
• Collapse · India(Santal) · "
• Cordial · Turkey · "
• Cosmetic · Africa · "
• Croup · Iraq · "
• Cyanogenetic · Elsewhere · "

89 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Monosaccharide Composition and In Vitro Lipid-Retention Properties of Ocimum basilicum L. Seed Mucilage. · 2026 source ↗
• Photosynthesis in transition: the importance of wavelengths in the green gap for <i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L. · 2026 source ↗
• Preparation and Characterization of Ocimum basilicum Extract-Loaded Niosomes and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic and Pro-Apoptotic Potential in SKOV3 Ovarian Cancer Cells. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ACETIC-ACID
• ESCULETIN
• ESCULIN
• CIS-ALLO-OCIMENE
• TRANS-ALLO-OCIMENE
• CIS-ANETHOLE
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• BENZYL-ALCOHOL
• BORON
• XI-BULGARENE
• BUTYRIC-ACID
• BETA-CADINENE
• BETA-CADINOL
• CAFFEIC-ACID
• CAFFEIC-ACID-N-BUTYL-ESTER
• CALCIUM

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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