Independent botanical knowledge atlas Taxonomy indexed. Evidence labelled. Safety kept visible. Explore the medicinal index
Enriched botanical record

Holy basil

Ocimum tenuiflorum L.

Also indexed asOcimum tenuiflorumsHoly basilTulsiThai holy basilAlbahacaBasilic sacréBrimstone BushHeilige basielkruid
FamilyLamiaceae
GenusOcimum
Use categories5
Linked notes0
Poison use is recorded for this taxon.This is a classification flag, not a dosage guide. Do not infer safe use from any documented-use label.

Botanical identity

An aromatic basil used in teas, foods and traditional preparations.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderLamiales
FamilyLamiaceae
GenusOcimum
Scientific name with authorshipOcimum tenuiflorum L.
Curated parts indexedLeaves and flowering tops

Indexed scientific synonyms

Geniosporum tenuiflorum (L.) Merr.Lumnitzera tenuiflora (L.) Spreng.Moschosma tenuiflorum (L.) Heynh.Ocimum flexuosum BlancoOcimum frutescens Burm.f., 1768Ocimum hirsutum Benth.Ocimum inodorum Burm.f.Ocimum monachorum L.Ocimum sanctum L.Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis GomesOcimum sanctum var. hirsutum (Benth.) Hook.f.Ocimum scutellarioides Willd.Ocimum scutellarioides Willd. ex Benth.Ocimum subserratum B.HeyneOcimum subserratum B.Heyne ex Hook.f.Ocimum tenuiflorum f. villicaulis DominOcimum tomentosum Lam.Ocimum villosum Roxb.Plectranthus monachorum (L.) Spreng.

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Material
Poison reported
Social use

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Traditional and practical context

Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.

Evidence boundary

Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier453130-1
Use codesHF MA ME PO SU
Crop wild relativeNo

Contributing checklist sources

Kew Economic Botany CollectionUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New GuineaPlant Resources of South-East AsiaPlant Resources for Tropical AfricaMalaria and Fever in Latin America

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

!

Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.