Ocimum americanum

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Trinidad, Zanzibar, Africa(Swahili), West Indies, French Guiana

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Bronchitis, Carminative, Catarrh, Cold

Science studied: BETULINIC-ACID

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 americanum

Common names: American Basil, American basil, Amerikanisches Basilikum, Amerikinis bazilikas, Bazylia amerykańska, Bontulsi, Kali tulasi, Karanzani, Lime Basil, Limunski bosiljak, Manjericão, Manjerona, Sadzani, Wilde basielkruid, Yerba di Hole, Zitronen-Basilikum

POWO: 316218-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Trinidad, Zanzibar, Africa(Swahili), West Indies, French Guiana.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Bronchitis
• Carminative
• Catarrh
• Cold
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Diuretic
• Dysentery

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Trinidad
• Zanzibar
• Africa(Swahili)
• West Indies
• French Guiana

Documented cultural uses

• Bronchitis
• Carminative
• Catarrh
• Cold
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Diuretic
• Dysentery
• Dyspepsia
• Inhalant
• Repellant(Insect)
• Parasiticide

Cultural record detail

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

• Bronchitis · Elsewhere · "
• Carminative · Elsewhere · "
• Carminative · Trinidad · "
• Catarrh · Elsewhere · "
• Cold · Elsewhere · "
• Cough · Trinidad · "
• Diarrhea · Trinidad · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Dysentery · Elsewhere · "
• Dysentery · Trinidad · "
• Dyspepsia · Trinidad · "
• Inhalant · Trinidad · "
• Repellant(Insect) · Zanzibar · "
• Parasiticide · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Stimulant · Trinidad · "
• Stomach · Africa(Swahili) · "
• Ache(Tooth) · Elsewhere · "
• Tuberculosis · Elsewhere · "
• Tumor · West Indies · "
• Cough · Elsewhere · "
• Diaphoretic · Elsewhere · "
• Antiseptic · Trinidad · "
• Bactericide · Elsewhere · "

4 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

• Integrative Insights Into UV-B-Induced Growth Regulation, Physiological Responses, Antioxidants, and Essential Oil Remodeling in Ocimum americanum L. · 2026 source ↗
• Enhancement of essential oil yield in Ocimum americanum L. across ontogenetic phases by Bacillus subtilis MTCC 8141 and Trichoderma harzianum MTCC 936 and its termiticidal efficacy against Odontotermes parvidens · 2026 source ↗
• American Basil, <i>Ocimum americanum</i>, Has Neuroprotective Properties in the Aging Process. · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULINIC-ACID

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

checking published revisions…