Ocimum: The Holy Basil Against Cardiac Anomalies

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases have become a major health challenge in present time due to the change in lifestyle and industrialization leading to the higher morbidity and mortality. Diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, excessive weight, and consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and significant increase in life expectancy increased the frequency of cardiovascular diseases globally among all class and section of people. Cardiovascular diseases are clusters of different diseases including hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina, congestive heart disease, congenital heart disease, thrombosis, etc. Plants are being used as a remedy for various diseases since antiquity. The beneficial medicinal effects of these plant materials are mainly due to the chemical combinations of secondary metabolites produced by the plants. Ocimum (Tulsi), “Queen of herbs” has been regarded “elixir of life” and believed to promote longevity. The extract of Ocimum is being used in Ayurvedic remedies for common cold, headache, stomach disorder, inflammation, heart disease, malaria, etc. Ocimum has profound effect on treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases by means of lowering blood lipid content, suppressing ischemia and stroke, reducing hypertension, and also due to its higher antioxidant properties. Besides, it also plays an important role in antiplatelet aggregation and prevents risk of pulmonary hypertension. These cardioprotective properties prove that Ocimum may be treated as a good remedy against prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.