• Basil chemical components
• Basil medicinal benefits
• Basil side effect
• Basil herbal recipes

Basil leaves have various medicinal properties. Information about Basil Leaf extract is something very interesting to dig deeper. In Latin, basil called Ocimum basilicum. Basil from English, Ocimum means scented plants. Fragrant aroma of basil essential oil derived from the content.

Allied with basil basil (Ocimun sancium), mint (Mentho arvensis), and cumin leaves (Coleus amboinicus). Its closest relatives are the bacilli (Ocimun amboinicus). The smell of basil leaves are very distinctive, strong but soft aroma with a touch of lime.

Basil has several names such as surawung (West Java), manglok (Thailand), Genovese (Mediterranean / Italian), holy basil or tulsi (India).

In Thailand, basil is used as a spice in cooking. In India and parts of Africa, basil leaves brewed into tea. Basil tea is served at the turn of the season, when local people susceptible to coughs, colds, or fevers.

In Europe, basil essential oil extracted and retrieved. Basil essential oil is widely used as an ingredient in the manufacture of medicines, soap, perfume essences, lotions, ointments, candy lozenges, and aroma therapy oils.

Basil Chemical Components and Nutrient

Basil leaves contain beta-carotene (pro vitamin A) and vitamin C. Role of beta-carotene supports the function of vision, increase the antibody response (affect immune function), protein synthesis to support the growth process, and as an antioxidant.

Vitamin C, among others, are useful for

1. The formation of collagen for wound healing and maintain skin elasticity. Collagen is a protein compound that affects the integrity of cell structure in all connective tissue, such as cartilage, bone matrix, tooth dentin, capillary membrane, skin and tendons (tendons).
2. Helps the absorption of calcium and iron,
3. Antioxidants,
4. Prevents the formation of nitrosamines which are carcinogenic (causing cancer).

Basil leaves are rich in macro minerals, namely calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Calcium is important for the formation and growth of bone, nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction helps, and helps activate the enzyme reaction.

Phosphorus plays a role in bone growth, helps the absorption and transport of nutrients, regulate the balance of acids and bases. Magnesium helps relax the heart and blood vessels, thus improving blood flow.

Basil leaves also contain components such as flavonoids nongizi and eugenol, arginine, anetol, boron, and essential oils. And eugenol flavonoids act as antioxidants, which can neutralize free radicals, neutralize cholesterol and are anticancer.

These compounds also have anti-microbial that is able to prevent the entry of bacteria, viruses, or fungi that harm the body. Very nice basil eugenol consumed by women because it can kill the fungi that cause vaginal discharge.

The content of arginine was able to strengthen the endurance of sperm and prevent infertility. Anetol and boron compounds are also very instrumental in keeping the male and female reproductive health.

Anetol and boron may stimulate hormones estrogen and androgen, and prevent bone loss. Estrogen and androgen hormones play a role in the female reproductive system.

Essential oils easily evaporate and has biological activity as an antimicrobial. Essential oils are divided into two components, namely the component hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons or phenol component. Phenol has a very strong antimicrobial properties.

Essential oils can prevent the growth of disease-causing microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and Escherichia coli. Essential oils can also ward off infection from the virus Basillus subtilis, Salmonella paratyphi, and Proteus vulgaris.

Eugenol in basil leaves can kill the fungi that cause vaginal discharge. And stigmasterol can stimulate ovulation (egg maturation). Component of its tannins and zinc can reduce the secretion of vaginal fluid, whereas the amino acid tryptophan may delay the menopause. Components such as flavonoids orientin and vicenin on basil leaves can protect the body’s cell structure. Meanwhile, the flavonoid components such as cineole, myrcene and eugenol useful as a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatories.

Nutrient composition per 10 grams of basil leaves

Nutrition	Levels
Energy (kcal)	46
Protein (g)	4.0
Fat (g)	0.5
Carbohydrates (g)	8.9
Calcium (mg)	45
Phosphorus (mg)	75
Iron (mg)	2
Vitamin A (RE)	750
Vitamin B (mg)	0:08
Vitamin C (mg)	50
Water (g)	85

Basil medicinal benefits

In the book A Dictionary of Practical Medical Materials mentioned, the juice of basil leaves efficacious to overcome diarrhea, breast pain, kidney stones, disorders of the vagina, and albuminaria (wastage of albumin in the urine). Researchers from the Center for New Crops and Plant Products, Purdue University, United States, said that basil could potentially help to relief headaches, colds, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal worms, kidney disorders, heartburn, flatulence, colds, cramps , and lethargic body.

In Indonesia, basil leaves traditionally used to treat abdominal bloating / colds and fever in children under five. Crushed basil leaves with red onion and coconut oil, then applied to the abdomen, chest, and back. Basil salad consumption is also believed clapat prevent body odor and bad breath, and facilitate breastfeeding.

Basil fertilizer

For men, there are also benefits of basil. Compounds 1-8 sineol in basil can overcome the problem of premature ejaculation. Fenkhona apigenin and eugenol was able to facilitate the erection. While the substance arginine contained in the basil could strengthen the power of live sperm and
prevent infertility.

Menopause

As for women, basil including a very healthy food be useful. Basil anetol and boron-rich compounds that stimulate hormone
estrogen, whereas eugenolnya compounds can kill the fungi that cause fluor albus/vaginal discharge. Stigmaasterol substances in basil stimulates cell maturation
egg (ovulation), tannin, and tin reduce the secretion of vaginal fluid. Substances could delay monopause tryptophan.

Basil seed may help constipation

Its seeds are thought to benefit people with constipation or diarrhea. Researchers believe that its seed may prevent sugar absorption by providing dietary fiber and relive constipation by acting as a bulk-forming laxative.

Anti Cancer Effect

Basil leaf extract was very effective in elevating antioxidant enzyme response by increasing significantly the hepatic glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. . Chemo-preventive response was evident from the reduced tumor burden (the
average number of papillomas/mouse), as well as from the reduced percentage of tumor bearing-animals.  Experimental studies on albino rats reported that leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum and Ocimum album (holy basil) had hypoglycemic effect. While human study also showed a significant decrease in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels during treatment with holy basil leaves compared to during treatment with placebo leaves. Thus, basil may benefit people suffered from type 2 diabetes.

Arthritis & gout

The study found, when taken orally, extracts from two kinds of basil (Ocimum americanum and Ocimum tenuiflorum) shown to reduce inflammation in joints up to 73%, just within 24 hours.

One researcher Vaibhav Shinde from Poona College of Pharmacy in India stated that the various types of basil, the taste and aroma of the fresh leaves, proved to be effective as an anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain and swelling of arthritis.

Basil Side Effects

The effect. Although basil many benefits, you should not eat or eat too much basil. The content of the basil is a carcinogen estragol trigger cancer. So be careful.

People with serious kidney or liver damage should not use basil volatile oil internally, as they could theoretically have trouble eliminating it from their bodies.

Basil is safe in food amounts, and it seems to be safe in medicinal amounts when used by adults short-term. In some people basil can cause low blood sugar.

Basil might be UNSAFE when used long-term. It contains estragole, a chemical that might increase the risk of getting liver cancer.

Don’t use basil oil. It is UNSAFE due to the estragole content.

Basil seems to be safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts might be UNSAFE. Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused livercancer in laboratory mice.

Basil seems to be safe for children in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts might be UNSAFE. Basil contains a chemical, estragole, which has caused liver cancer in laboratory mice.

 

Basil Herbal Recipes

Purpose:
1. Skin fungus
Handful of basil leaves washed, finely crushed. Give a little water whiting. Rub this mixture on the skin that berpanu. Do this 2x a day.

2. Diarrhea and Vomiting
Basil to taste eaten as fresh vegetables.

3. Sprue
50 basil leaves washed, chew until smooth for 2-3 minutes. Swallow. Drinking warm water. Do this 3x a day.

4. Mounth odor, bad breath
Frequently eat fresh vegetables basil leaves, turmeric leaves, and leaf beluntas.

5. Body odor
Basil to taste as fresh vegetables eaten dinner for 1 week.