Ocimum basilicum var.thyrsiflorum/Ocimum thyrsiflorum Hindi-Marooah,Marathi-Marawa,Popular-Thai basil/Siam Queen Basil/Anise Basil/Licorice Basil Lamiaceae

Ocimum basilicum var.thyrsiflorum/Ocimum thyrsiflorum (Hindi-Marooah,Marathi-Marawa,Popular-Thai basil/Siam Queen Basil/Anise Basil/Licorice Basil)Lamiaceae.It is a type of basil native to SE Asia and grows upto 45 cm tall.Leaves are opposite,small and narrow,purple stem is square shaped.The inflorescence is purple and the flowers are pinkish purple.Thai basil is widely used in the cuisine of SE Asia including Thai,Vietnamese,Lao and Cambodian cuisines.Leaves are the frequent ingredient in Thai green and red curries.This is the perfect culinary herb and has been cultivated for centuries.In India,it has great importance in pooja especially in Ganapati and Gauri festivals.It is also used in rituals after death.It has antioxidant, antibacterial,anti inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, carminative, stimulant, diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge, diuretic, demulcent, cooling,antithrombotic, antimutagenic, anticancer, antiulcerogenic,antiplatelet, anticonvulsant, galactagogue,stomachic, antispasmodic and insect repellent activities.It is used in the treatment of anxiety, headache,cold and cough,fevers, migraine, diabetes,nerve pain, cardiovascular diseases, digestion disorders, insect bites, menstrual cramps, sinusitis, neurodegenerative diseases,etc.Major constituents in the essential oil are estragole (methyl chavicol),eugenol, methyl eugenol,geranial and neral.The phytoconstituents are carotenoids,lutein, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, phenolic acids (gallic,caffeic,coumaric and sinapic acids),catechin,apigenin,etc.

– Mukherjee Bk