Krishna Tulsi Research Articles

Isolation, Characterization and Determination of Structural Composition of Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Krishna Tulsi Plant) by IR, NMR, Mass Spectroscopy.

therapeutic and medicinal uses. This evergreen leaf, which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, is well known around the world for its versatility and capacity to treat a wide range of illnesses. Objective: The primary goal of this bioanalytical investigation is to identify and structurally clarify the principal phytoconstituents found in the Ocimum tenuiflorum ethanolic extract. Method: In this phyto-analysis, spectral analysis was used to clarify the structure of the phytoconstituents that were extracted from the Ocimum tenuiflorum plant using column chromatography. Result and Conclusion: Using spectrum analysis (I.R., NMR, and mass spectroscopy), two significant isolates from Ocimum tenuiflorum, Apigenin and Carnosic Acid, were found and their structures clarified.

GC-MS analysis of an ethanolic extract of Ocimum species: anetwork pharmacology analysis insight towards obesity.

Aim: In this study, we have selected two different Ocimum tenuiflorum plants, Ocimum tenuiflorum (Rama tulsi) (OTRT) and Ocimum tenuiflorum (Krishna tulsi) (OTKT). Materials & methods: In the present investigation, ethanol was used as a solvent to estimate the bioactive compounds present in it through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Based on the GC-MS data benzenepropanoic acid, 3-methoxy-alpha,4-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy was found to be the potent compound in OTRT (MW: 428.74g/mol) and methyl 3-(4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropanoate in OTKT (MW: 342.39g/mol). To estimate its pharmacological application, an integrated Network Pharmacology approach is performed toward the disease target obesity. Conclusion: From the protein-protein interaction from the string database, SRC, BCL2, EGFR, MTOR, CDK1, ERBB2, MAPK1, FYN, AR and MAPK14 are the top-ranked targets.

Assessment of energy, exergy, environmental, and economic study of an evacuated tube solar dryer for drying Krishna Tulsi.

In the present work, experimental studies of drying Krishna tulsi leaves in an in-house fabricated evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) connected with an indirect solar dryer are carried out. The acquired findings are compared to those obtainedfrom drying the leaves in open sun drying (OSD). The developed dryer takes 8h to dry Krishna tulsi leaves; it takes 22h in the OSD to reacha final moisture content of 12% (db) from an initial moisture content of 47.26% (db). The collector and dryer efficiencies range from 42 to 75%, 0-18%, respectively, with an average solar radiation of 720 ± 20W/m2. The ETSC and drying chamber exergy inflow and outflow vary from 200 to 1400W, 0 to60W, and from0 to50W, 0 to14W, respectively. The ETSC and cabinet exergetic efficienciesrange from 0.6-4% and 2-85%, respectively. The exergetic loss of the overall drying process is estimated to be 0-40%. The drying system sustainability indices, including improvement potential (IP), sustainability index (SI), and waste exergy ratio (WER), are calculated and presented. The value of the embodied energy of the fabricated dryer is 349.874kWh. For an expected life span of 20years, the dryer will reduce CO2 by 13.2 tonnes and earn carbon credits worth between 10,894 and 43,576 INR. The proposed dryer has a payback period of 0.4years.

Formulation and Evaluation of Quality Parameters of Effervescent Granules from the Potent Antioxidant between Two Variants of the Adaptogenic Herb Ocimum tenuiflorum L.

Ocimum tenuiflorum L. is found throughout semitropical and tropical parts of Southeast Asia. In Nepal, O. tenuiflorum L. is popular with two variants: Krishna Tulsi consisting of purple-colored leaves and Sri Tulsi consisting of green-colored leaves. O. tenuiflorum L. is considered the queen of herbs and is a traditionally and clinically proven medicinal herb for its application and efficacy. However, no commercial pharmaceutical preparations of O. tenuiflorum L. are available using effervescent vehicles. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity of leaves from the two varieties of O. tenuiflorum L. and formulate and evaluate the quality parameters of effervescent granules of the potent extract. The antioxidant activity of O. tenuiflorum L. ethanolic extracts was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay at 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL concentrations, where ascorbic acid was used as the positive control. The antioxidant activity of purple-leafed O. tenuiflorum L. was found to be higher than that of green-leafed O. tenuiflorum L. Therefore, effervescent granules of the ethanolic extract of purple-leafed O. tenuiflorum L. were formulated using the pharmaceutical excipients tartaric acid, citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate and the quality parameters of the granules were evaluated. The formulated granules met the quality parameters assessed from the angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr's Index, Hausner's ratio, effervescent cessation time, and stability studies. Thus, the formulated effervescent granules of O. tenuiflorum L. can be used for therapeutic purposes or as a functional food.

Exploring bimetallic Au–Ag core shell nanoparticles reduced using leaf extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum as a potential antibacterial and nanocatalytic agent

Biosynthesis of bimetallic Au–Ag core shell nanoparticle under ambient condition using Ocimum tenuiflorum (Krishna Tulsi) leaf extract is being reported for the first time. For the biosynthesized bimetallic core shell nanoparticles (OTAuAgNPs) visual and spectrophotometric analysis was performed. Development of a deep purple color suggested the creation of OTAuAgNPs. It was then validated by UV–Vis spectrophotometry within 4 h of incubation showing a surface plasmon resonance peak at 560 nm. FESEM-EDAX, FT-IR, particle analyzer and XRD were the analytical techniques employed to characterize the biosynthesized OTAuAgNPs. Using a known antibiotic as a control, OTAuAgNPs (10 mg/ml) had a substantial bacteriostatic effect against Gram + ve (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram −ve (E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The OTAuAgNPs (6.5 mg) showed good catalytic action for the adsorption of Coomassie brilliant blue R250 dye (CBB) (50 mg/L, 25 mL), confirmed by the reduction in absorbance maxima that is time dependent. A remarkable adsorption of CBB (94.79%) was attained within 120 min, and the results were best-suited PSO and Elovich models with adsorption kinetic constant of 5.96E−04 g/mg.min and 37.81 mg/g.min, respectively. Further the toxicity studies of brilliant blue R250 dye and metabolite of CBB (post nano-remediated dye solution) was carried out on Vigna radiata (green gram) germination and growth. OTAuAgNPs as nanocatalyst remediated water revealed that it was nontoxic. Thus an ecofriendly and cost-effective approach for bimetallic nanoparticle synthesis could be further explored for removal of CBB from wastewater effluents.

Molecular docking analysis of PARγ with compounds from Ocimum tenuiflorum.

The ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) has become a major target for type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, which controls the expression of proteins involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and insulin sensitivity. Ocimum tenuiflorum, often known as Krishna tulsi, is the most sacred herb in India. It was utilized for a variety of medicinal purposes. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of PARγ modulators from Ocimum tenuiflorum. Four of the twenty substances (rosmarinic acid, permethrin, luteolin, and isosakuranetin) have a considerable binding affinity for the PPARγ. These phytochemicals are a source of potential anti-diabetic medicines.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum): A Potent Adaptogen

Tulsi or holy basil is a dedicated plant of India. It is a pungent plant in the family Lamiaceae which is mother to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. Tulsi is considered to be an adaptogen, balancing different processes in the body, and helpful for adapting to stress. Tulsi, one with a purple‑colored leaf or dark variety, commonly known as the Shyama or Krishna Tulsi and the second type with a green‑colored leaf or light variety known as Rama Tulsi or Sri Tulsi. The chemical composition of Tulsi is highly complex, containing many nutrients and other biologically active compounds. Tulsi also helps to check cancers caused by toxic compounds by reducing DNA damage. Tulsi has also been shown to boost defenses against infective threats by intensify immune responses in non-stressed and stressed animals and healthy humans. The O. sanctum fixed oil elongate clotting time, response being similar to aspirin. Basil juice is an effective medicament for sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin A

The complete chloroplast genome of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. subtype Krishna Tulsi and its phylogenetic analysis

The complete chloroplast genome (cp) of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. subtype Krishna Tulsi was sequenced and assembled using Illumina paired-end sequencing data. The cp genome is 151,758 bp in length, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,794 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,592 bp, and a pair of inverted repeated (IR) region of 25,686 bp. The cp genome of Krishna Tulsi encodes 129 genes, including 90 protein-coding, 31 transfer RNA (tRNA), and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. While the overall GC content was 37.9%, it is 36.0%, 31.8%, and 43.1% in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genome sequences of 17 species from Lamiaceae revealed that O. tenuiflorum subtype Krishna Tulsi is clustered with other Ocimum species, and forms a clade with genera from family Lamiaceae.

Effect of Ocimum sanctum extract on leukemic cell lines: A preliminary in-vitro study.

Background:Surge of cancer incidence, effects of chemotherapeutic agents and their cost and reduced survival and responsiveness to treatment have led to shift of attention of researchers toward herbal remedies to look for newer dimension in cancer therapy. Ocimum sanctum, Holy Basil or Tulsi, holiest herb well used in the Indian household, has drawn much attention toward its various health benefits, especially anti-cancer property. The present study was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of O. sanctum on leukemic cell lines K562.Materials and Methods:Dry and aqueous extracts of two types of Tulsi leaves (Rama Tulsi and Krishna Tulsi) were evaluated for a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative against K562 cell lines, leukoerythroid progenitor leukemic cell lines by 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration was evaluated for each of the extracts.Results:Both dry and aqueous extracts of both types of Tulsi leaves demonstrated a significant amount of cytotoxicity against the studied cell lines.Conclusion:This being preliminary study, we propose the initial finding of cytotoxic abilities of the herb against the leukemic cell lines and recommend a more detailed evaluation of the herb and its components.

Nutritional, Spectral and Thermal Characteristic of Lamiaceae Seeds

Aims: Species of the family Lamiaceae possess a rich tradition of use for flavoring and medicinal purposes. This paper focusses on the nutritional and thermal characteristics of the seeds from eight species belonging to this family: Gmelina arborea Roxb. ex Sm., Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit., Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br., Ocimum americanum L., Ocimum sanctum L. (Rama Tulsi), Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (Krishna Tulsi), Origanum vulgare L. and Tectona grandis L.f.
 Methodology: The oil, starch, total polyphenol, flavonoid and mineral contents for aforementioned seeds were determined. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to assess the phytoconstituents. Thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric analyses (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses were performed to analyze the decomposition patterns.
 Results: The concentrations of oil, starch, total polyphenol, flavonoids and minerals for the seeds from the eight plants under study ranged from 11.8 to 50.4%, from 0.22 to 1.84%, from 295 to 5842 mg/kg, from 1660 to 12680 mg/kg and from 11756 to 33927 mg/kg, respectively. Unsaturated oils, polyphenols and lignin were recognized by vibrational spectroscopy. The sequence of thermal effects in the seed pyrolysis process above 100°C have been put in relation to seed protein crystallization (endotherm at 200°C), oxidation reactions and degradation of hemicellulose and other fiber components (at around 300°C), and decomposition of polyunsaturated (at 357°C) and mono-unsaturated (at 391°C) triglycerides. 
 Conclusion: Lamiaceae seeds are potential food alternatives to cereals.

Photosynthetic Performance of Ocimum sanctum Morphotypes in a Semiarid Region

ABSTRACTComparative ecophysiological studies by measurements of photosystem II (PSII) chlorophyll a fluorescence, pigment composition, and proline content were used in the synecological assessments of two Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) morphotypes, viz., Sri Tulsi and Krishna Tulsi, to compare their overall “adaptiveness.” The effective quantum yield of PSII (ΔF/Fm’sat) and maximum apparent electron transport rate (ETRmax) was 30% lower in Krishna Tulsi than in Sri Tulsi plants. Chlorophyll and carotenoid content in Sri Tulsi were twofold higher than in Krishna Tulsi. Results indicated that differences in photosynthetic efficiency observed in Sri Tulsi may determine ecological dominance.

Genome sequencing of herb Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) unravels key genes behind its strong medicinal properties.

BackgroundKrishna Tulsi, a member of Lamiaceae family, is a herb well known for its spiritual, religious and medicinal importance in India. The common name of this plant is ‘Tulsi’ (or ‘Tulasi’ or ‘Thulasi’) and is considered sacred by Hindus. We present the draft genome of Ocimum tenuiflurum L (subtype Krishna Tulsi) in this report. The paired-end and mate-pair sequence libraries were generated for the whole genome sequenced with the Illumina Hiseq 1000, resulting in an assembled genome of 374 Mb, with a genome coverage of 61 % (612 Mb estimated genome size). We have also studied transcriptomes (RNA-Seq) of two subtypes of O. tenuiflorum, Krishna and Rama Tulsi and report the relative expression of genes in both the varieties.ResultsThe pathways leading to the production of medicinally-important specialized metabolites have been studied in detail, in relation to similar pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plants. Expression levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes in leaf samples of Krishna Tulsi were observed to be relatively high, explaining the purple colouration of Krishna Tulsi leaves. The expression of six important genes identified from genome data were validated by performing q-RT-PCR in different tissues of five different species, which shows the high extent of urosolic acid-producing genes in young leaves of the Rama subtype. In addition, the presence of eugenol and ursolic acid, implied as potential drugs in the cure of many diseases including cancer was confirmed using mass spectrometry.ConclusionsThe availability of the whole genome of O.tenuiflorum and our sequence analysis suggests that small amino acid changes at the functional sites of genes involved in metabolite synthesis pathways confer special medicinal properties to this herb.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0562-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chemical composition of the essential oil of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (Krishna Tulsi) from North West Karnataka, India

The chemical composition of the essential oil of flowering aerial parts of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. growing in the North West Karnataka, India, was investigated. The hydro-distilled essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results demonstrated that the oil was found to be rich in phenyl derivative compounds (83.8%). The major compound was identified as methyl eugenol (82.9%) among twenty-six compounds, comprising 98.9% of the total oil.

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) for assessing genetic diversity of Ocimum sanctum (Krishna Tulsi) from different environments of Central India

The advent of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique has opened up new avenues and opportunities in the diversified field of research and scientific investigations by the application of molecular markers to study the taxonomic and genetic diversity. The genetic diversity of nine accessions of Ocimum sanctum (Krishna Tulsi) collected from different parts of state of Madhya Pradesh has been reported in this paper using eight random amplified polymorphic DNA primers. Total of 144 bands were scored corresponding to an average of 18 bands per primer, with 137 bands showing polymorphism (95.13%) and 7 bands showing monomorphism (4.86%). All the primers individually gave more than 60% polymorphism. Jaccard similarity coefficient ranged from 0.18 to 0.48. A dendrogram constructed based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering method revealed two major clusters. Cluster-1 comprised of seven accessions, which was further differentiated into two subclusters and while Cluster-2 included only 2 accessions. This study revealed rich genetic diversity among O. sanctum accessions from Madhya Pradesh in central India, possibly allowing it to more easily adapt to environmental variations. Key words: Polymerase chain reaction- random amplified polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD), genetic diversity, medicinal plant, primers, DNA extraction.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of eugenol-rich fraction from Ocimum sanctum Linn and a comparative evaluation with other extraction techniques: Process optimization and phytochemical characterization

Ocimum sanctum Linn., commonly known as Tulsi in India, is pharmacologically important owing to its active constituents, chiefly eugenol. In this work, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction has been performed with Krishna tulsi to maximize the yield of eugenol in the extracts and comparatively evaluated against conventional extractions. Phytochemical analyses of chlorophyll-lean and chlorophyll-rich SC-CO2 extracts showed promising results. SC-CO2 extract with maximum eugenol content (4.631mgg−1 dry tulsi powder) was obtained at 70°C, 400bar and 1.5h extracting time. However under these extraction conditions, appreciable amount of cuticular waxes and chlorophyll co-eluted. Eugenol-enriched (4.141mgg−1 dry tulsi powder) chlorophyll-lean extract was obtained at 50°C, 100bar after 1.5h extracting time. Comparative study of phytochemical properties of extracts obtained by several extraction techniques, established that the SC-CO2 extract has the best combination of eugenol and phenolic content along with reducing power, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The chlorophyll-rich and chlorophyll-lean extracts of SC-CO2 extracts have comparable phytochemical properties. SC-CO2 extraction has been successfully employed for extraction of eugenol from Krishna tulsi with appreciable nutraceutical potency. We envisage that both chlorophyll-lean and chlorophyll-rich extracts of the same would have promising applications in food and pharmaceuticals.