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Herb library · Updated 17 October 2026 · By Aashish Passi · 26 sources

Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum): what the research says

Tulsi, or holy basil, is an aromatic plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Kew's Plants of the World Online accepts the name Ocimum tenuiflorum L., and lists Ocimum sanctum L., the name used in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, as a synonym[1, 5]. The API lists the dried leaf and the whole plant, with a volatile oil as the main constituent[1, 2]. In human research, a systematic review of 24 studies found favourable outcomes in all of them[7]; randomised trials have found lower stress scores than placebo[8, 9] and, in Indian dental trials, gum-health results comparable to chlorhexidine mouthwash[23, 24], though most trials are small and short. MSK describes the clinical studies as small, and short-term side effects as nausea, headache and agitation[3].

At a glance

Names and identity

Common nameTulsi (holy basil, sacred basil)
SanskritTulasī (Tulasi), Surasā
HindiTulsi
PunjabiTulsi
Botanical nameOcimum tenuiflorum L. (syn. Ocimum sanctum L.)
FamilyLamiaceae
Part usedLeaf (API monograph 73) or whole plant (API monograph 72); the seed has its own API monograph.
Sanskrit synonymsSurasā, Kṛṣṇatulasī, Bana Tulasī

Ayurveda

Tulsi in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia

Rasa (taste)Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
Guna (qualities)Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry), Tikshna (sharp)
Virya (potency)Ushna (hot)
Vipaka (post-digestive effect)Katu (pungent)
Action on doshasKaphahara and Vatahara (pacifies Kapha and Vata). The whole-plant monograph describes it as Pittavardhini (increasing Pitta); the leaf monograph lists it as Pittahara. The two API entries differ on this point. Traditional uses listed in the API include Svasa, Kasa, Hikka, Krimiroga, Kushtha and Parshvashula; the leaf entry also lists Aruci and Pratishyaya.
Karma (actions)Deepana, Hridya, Kaphahara, Vatahara, Krimighna, Rucya
Classical formulationsTribhuvanakirti Rasa, Muktapanchamrita Rasa, Manasamitra Vataka, Mahajvarankusha Rasa
Dose in the APIWhole plant: 1-3 ml of the drug in juice form; 1-2 g of the drug in powder form (seed). Leaf: 2-3 g of the drug in powder form (API Part I, Vol II).

Profile as recorded in the official texts[1, 2].

Chemistry

Key constituents

  • The API gives the constituents of the leaf as volatile oil (carvacrol, caryophyllene, nerol, camphene and others), and its thin-layer chromatography test for the whole plant uses eugenol and caryophyllene as markers in the oil obtained by stem distillation.[1, 2]
  • MSK lists eugenol, carvacrol, ursolic acid, beta-caryophyllene, orientin, vicenin and rosmarinic acid as bioactive constituents.[3]
  • Composition varies with plant type and extraction. The trials below used different products: dried or fresh leaf, ethanolic extracts and a standardised extract, so results from one preparation cannot be assumed for another.[8, 9, 10, 12]

Research

What human studies show

The bottom line

Every human study in the one systematic review of tulsi (24 studies, including Indian databases) reported favourable outcomes and no significant adverse events[7]. The most consistent results are in oral health, where two Indian randomised trials found a tulsi mouthwash matched chlorhexidine on plaque and gum inflammation[23, 24], and in stress, where two placebo-controlled trials of 100 and 150 adults found lower stress scores[8, 9]. Glucose, lipid, cognitive and immune findings come from smaller or older trials[10, 11, 12, 13]. Most studies are short and single-centre, so the results are encouraging but not yet the large, long-term trials needed to support a claim about any disease.

systematic reviewEvidence: limited

Overview of human studies

24 human studies of tulsi (metabolic, cardiovascular, immune and neurocognitive outcomes), searched across Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PubMed, Indian databases and grey literature

The authors reported favourable clinical outcomes in all included studies and no significant adverse events, and concluded the findings support tulsi for lifestyle-related conditions. They also said more studies are needed on dose, dose form and which people benefit.[7, 16]

Limitations: Not a meta-analysis; no pooled effect size. It included books, theses and conference papers, and the abstract does not rate study quality. Authors are from the same RMIT group as the related 2014 review, whose author discloses consulting for a tulsi manufacturer. 'All studies favourable' is a sign of possible publication bias.

RCTEvidence: moderate

Stress and sleep

n=100 adults with stress, 8 weeks, 125 mg Ocimum tenuiflorum extract (Holixer) twice daily vs placebo

Compared with placebo, the extract was associated with greater improvement in Perceived Stress Scale (primary outcome) and Athens Insomnia Scale scores, lower hair cortisol at week 8, and lower salivary cortisol, salivary amylase, blood pressure and subjective stress after a laboratory stress test. No major adverse effects were reported.[8, 3, 4]

Limitations: A single branded extract; sleep tracker data did not confirm the sleep result and the authors call for gold-standard sleep measures.

RCTEvidence: limited

General stress symptoms

n=150 (71 extract, 79 placebo), 6 weeks, OciBest extract 1,200 mg of actives per day

Total self-rated stress-symptom scores fell more with the extract than with placebo, with the authors reporting about 39% more overall improvement. No adverse events were reported.[9, 3]

Limitations: Self-rated symptom scale; a commercial extract; we read the abstract only, not the full paper.

RCTEvidence: limited

Cognition in healthy adults

Healthy volunteers, 30 days, 300 mg ethanolic leaf extract daily vs placebo

Between-group differences favoured the extract on reaction time and error rate in Sternberg and Stroop tests and on P300 latency. Salivary cortisol and anxiety scores improved within the extract group only, not significantly between groups.[10, 3]

Limitations: Placebo group also improved on several tests; short; participants were healthy, so the findings say little about any condition.

otherEvidence: preliminary

Generalised anxiety

n=35, 60 days, 500 mg leaf-extract capsule twice daily, single-arm (no control group)

Anxiety, stress and depression ratings improved significantly from baseline. The authors suggested it may be useful in generalised anxiety disorder.[14, 3]

Limitations: No placebo or control arm, so changes cannot be attributed to the herb. Small and short.

RCTEvidence: preliminary

Immune markers

Crossover, 24 healthy volunteers (22 analysed), 300 mg ethanolic leaf extract vs placebo, 4 weeks

The extract group had higher levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4, and higher percentages of T-helper cells and NK cells, than placebo.[11]

Limitations: Laboratory markers in healthy people; no clinical outcome such as fewer infections was measured. Very small.

RCTEvidence: limited

Blood glucose in type 2 diabetes

Single-blind placebo-controlled crossover in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes; holy basil leaves vs placebo leaves

Fasting blood glucose fell by 21.0 mg/dl (17.6%) and post-meal glucose by 15.8 mg/dl (7.3%) with holy basil compared with placebo; total cholesterol showed a mild reduction.[12, 4]

Limitations: Published 1996, single-blind, small, and done with leaves rather than a standardised extract. The Merck Manual says there are few high-quality human studies and mentions a 90-day trial of 60 patients adding holy basil to glibenclamide, which we did not open. Do not use as a substitute for diabetes treatment.

RCTEvidence: preliminary

Weight, lipids and insulin

n=30 overweight or obese adults, open-label, 8 weeks, 250 mg extract twice daily vs no intervention

The extract group improved on triglycerides, LDL, HDL, BMI, insulin and insulin resistance; HDL was also better than in the control group. Liver enzymes did not change significantly in either group.[13, 3]

Limitations: Open-label with no placebo and only 30 participants; most of the improvements were within-group changes.

RCTEvidence: preliminary

Oral health (mouthrinse)

60 children at high caries risk, three groups of 20, 7 days: 4% tulsi ethanolic extract rinse vs 0.05% sodium fluoride rinse vs black myrobalan rinse

Salivary pH rose and Streptococcus mutans counts fell in all three groups. The pH increase was larger with fluoride than with the herbal rinses.[15, 3]

Limitations: Short, small, a laboratory marker rather than cavities; a rinse, not an oral herb.

RCTEvidence: moderate

Gum health (mouthwash vs chlorhexidine)

Triple-blind RCT at Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College, Moradabad: 108 volunteer students, tulsi mouthwash (n=36) vs chlorhexidine (n=36) vs saline (n=36), 30 days

Tulsi mouthwash reduced plaque and gingival bleeding scores significantly compared with saline at 15 and 30 days, and the authors found it as effective as chlorhexidine, the standard dental mouthwash.[23]

Limitations: Healthy students, one month, plaque and gum scores rather than tooth or gum loss; a rinse, not an oral herb.

RCTEvidence: limited

Gingivitis (mouthwash after scaling)

Double-blind RCT at Vishnu Dental College, Andhra Pradesh, published in AYU: 60 patients with gingivitis after scaling, tulsi vs aloe vera vs chlorhexidine mouthwash (20 each), twice daily for 30 days

At 30 days tulsi, aloe vera and chlorhexidine were equally effective in reducing plaque, gingival and bleeding indices; at 15 days the herbal rinses had not yet matched chlorhexidine.[24]

Limitations: Small, one month, no placebo arm in the final comparison.

otherEvidence: preliminary

Oral submucous fibrosis (topical)

Two Indian clinical studies without a control group: BHU Varanasi (41 patients, tulsi 1 g plus turmeric 1 g in glycerine, applied 3-4 times a day, 3 months) and KLE Belagavi (60 patients, topical tulsi paste, 3 months)

Both reported significant improvement in burning sensation and mouth opening over 3 months, and no systemic changes in blood tests in the BHU study.[25, 26]

Limitations: No control or placebo arm, so improvement cannot be attributed to tulsi alone; the BHU study combined tulsi with turmeric. Oral submucous fibrosis needs specialist care.

Laboratory and animal studies

These studies explain possible mechanisms. They do not show the same effect in people.

animalEvidence: preliminary

Anti-stress mechanism (animal and in vitro)

Rats exposed to 16 days of chronic variable stress, plus cell-based and cell-free assays of the extract and ursolic acid

In rats, the extract was associated with greater body-weight gain and less immobility time. In cell assays it reduced cortisol release, blocked the CRHR1 receptor and inhibited 11-beta-HSD1 and COMT.[17, 3]

Limitations: Animal and test-tube data; effects in people have not been shown to work by these mechanisms.

in vitroEvidence: preliminary

Insulin secretion (animal and in vitro)

Ethanol extract and partition fractions tested on perfused rat pancreas, isolated rat islets and a rat beta-cell line

The extract and several fractions stimulated insulin secretion in a concentration-dependent way; chloroform and hexane fractions acted with decreased cell viability, which the authors note.[18, 3]

Limitations: No human data from this paper; the effect was seen in rat tissue and cell lines.

Safety

Safety, interactions and regulation

  • Common effects: MSK lists nausea, headache and agitation. The Merck Manual adds that holy basil seems safe for most people by mouth for up to 8 weeks, and that safety beyond 8 weeks has not been studied. The 2017 systematic review and the 100-person extract trial found no significant adverse events.[3, 4, 7, 8]
  • Liver: no holy basil chapter exists in LiverTox. For eugenol, a major constituent, LiverTox says therapeutic doses have not been linked to liver injury but high-dose ingestions (overdose) can cause severe liver injury. That concerns concentrated eugenol or clove oil, not tulsi leaf, and is noted here only because eugenol is an ingredient. In a small 8-week trial, tulsi extract did not significantly change liver enzymes.[6, 13]
  • Pregnancy and fertility: the Merck Manual says holy basil might not be safe in pregnancy or when trying to conceive, because large doses in animal studies reduced implantation and full-term pregnancy; whether this happens in people is not known, and breastfeeding safety has not been studied. Separately, animal studies reported reduced sperm count and motility in rats (benzene extract, reversed 2 weeks after stopping) and lower sperm count in rabbits fed fresh leaf. No human fertility study was found in our sources.[4, 19, 20]
  • Medicine interactions (per the Merck Manual, without primary human data in our sources): holy basil might lower thyroxine and so could weaken thyroid medicine, appears to inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong clotting time (a bleeding concern before surgery or with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs), and in animals may increase the sedating effect of barbiturates. Diabetes medicines are a plausible interaction given the glucose findings above, but we found no interaction study; people on diabetes treatment should speak to their doctor before use.[4, 12]
  • Regulators: we found no EMA/HMPC herbal monograph for Ocimum tenuiflorum, no NCCIH page, and no safety alert from TGA or Health Canada. This is a gap in our search, not a statement that none exists.

Quality

Identity, standards and adulteration

  • API identity (leaf): thin, elliptic-oblong leaves 2.5-5 cm long, hairy on both surfaces, aromatic odour; microscopy shows both anomocytic and diacytic stomata, covering and glandular trichomes, with stomatal index 10-13-15 (upper) and 14-15-16 (lower) and vein-islet number 31-33.[2]
  • API limits for the leaf: foreign matter not more than 2%; total ash not more than 19%; acid-insoluble ash not more than 3%; alcohol-soluble extractive not less than 6%; water-soluble extractive not less than 13%. The whole-plant monograph sets total ash not more than 10%, acid-insoluble ash not more than 1.5%, alcohol-soluble extractive not less than 4% and water-soluble extractive not less than 8%. Neither sets an assay for a marker compound; identity uses thin-layer chromatography (the whole plant against eugenol and caryophyllene).[1, 2]
  • Identity and substitution: in a UK study, DNA barcoding (ITS and trnH-psbA) of 33 vouchered Ocimum specimens suggested possible substitution of Ocimum gratissimum for O. tenuiflorum in some household plants. Of 47 commercial samples, many were hard to authenticate, possibly because manufacturing degraded the DNA. This is a single small UK study, not a market-wide adulteration rate.[21]
  • Naming: the API and much older research use Ocimum sanctum Linn.; Kew accepts Ocimum tenuiflorum L. and lists O. sanctum as a synonym. Check that a supplier's certificate names the right species, as the genus includes culinary sweet basil (O. basilicum) that is not the same plant; MSK also warns not to confuse holy basil with cooking basil. Cultivated types are commonly grouped by leaf colour (for example Rama, Krishna and Vana tulsi); the genetic diversity of Indian isolates at the one DNA region studied was very low.[5, 3, 22]

Manufacturing

How Tulsi is made into medicines

In Ayurvedic practice tulsi is used as fresh juice (swarasa), dried leaf powder (churna), and in classical formulations listed in the API such as Tribhuvanakirti Rasa and Mahajvarankusha Rasa[1, 2]. API doses are 1-3 ml of juice and 2-3 g of leaf powder[1, 2]. Commercial products use dried leaf, ethanolic or water extracts, and standardised extracts (the trials used products such as Holixer and OciBest), so a monograph's dose does not transfer between forms[8, 9]. Because identity can be hard to confirm in processed material and substitution has been reported, raw material should be authenticated by macroscopy, microscopy and the API thin-layer chromatography, with DNA methods as a supplement for whole leaf[21, 2]. The API's volatile oil is obtained by stem distillation for its test method; this is a laboratory test, not a statement about any manufacturer's process[1].

Prabhat makes churnas, tablets, capsules, kwaths, syrups and oils under AYUSH GMP for brands across India. See churna, tablet and capsule manufacturing, or white label products.

FAQ

Common questions about Tulsi

What is tulsi good for?

Tulsi is a traditional Ayurvedic herb; the API lists uses such as Svasa, Kasa and Krimiroga[1, 2]. In modern research, randomised trials have studied it for stress, gum health, cognition and blood glucose; the stress and mouthwash trials are the most consistent, though most are small[7, 8, 9, 23, 24]. It is not proven to prevent or manage any disease.

Is tulsi the same as holy basil?

Yes: tulsi is the Hindi name for holy basil, accepted by Kew as Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Ocimum sanctum is an older name for the same species[5]. It is not the sweet basil (O. basilicum) used in cooking[3].

Does tulsi lower stress?

In a placebo-controlled trial of 100 stressed adults, a standardised extract was associated with greater improvement in Perceived Stress Scale scores and lower hair cortisol after 8 weeks[8]. A 150-person trial reported lower stress-symptom scores over 6 weeks[9]. Both used commercial extracts, and MSK calls such studies small[3].

Can tulsi lower blood sugar?

A small 1996 crossover trial found lower fasting and post-meal glucose with holy basil leaves than with placebo[12]. Evidence since is limited, and the Merck Manual notes few high-quality studies[4]. People taking diabetes medicines should speak to their doctor first.

Is tulsi safe in pregnancy?

The Merck Manual says holy basil might not be safe in pregnancy or when trying to conceive, because large doses in animal studies reduced implantation and full-term pregnancy; human data are lacking[4]. Safety during breastfeeding has not been studied[4]. Tulsi tea or capsules are best discussed with a doctor.

Does tulsi affect fertility or thyroid?

In rats and rabbits, some extracts or fresh leaf reduced sperm count; the rat effect reversed after stopping[19, 20]. The Merck Manual also says holy basil might lower thyroxine[4]. We found no human study confirming either, so these are cautions rather than established effects.

References

Sources

  1. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume II. Monograph No. 72: Tulasi (Whole Plant), Ocimum sanctum Linn. Source.
  2. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume II. Monograph No. 73: Tulasi (Leaf), Ocimum sanctum Linn. Source.
  3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Integrative Medicine Service. Holy Basil: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products. Last updated 21 September 2026. Accessed 18 Oct 2026. Source.
  4. Merck Manual Professional Edition. Holy Basil. Shane-McWhorter L (author); peer reviewed by Vivian EM. Full review July 2025. Accessed 18 Oct 2026. Source.
  5. Plants of the World Online (POWO). Ocimum tenuiflorum L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. First published in Sp. Pl.: 597 (1753). Accessed 18 Oct 2026. Source.
  6. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Eugenol (Clove Oil). Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Updated 28 October 2019. Source.
  7. Jamshidi N, Cohen MM. The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tulsi in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:9217567. PMID: 28400848. doi: 10.1155/2017/9217567.
  8. Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Metse AP, Drummond PD. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of an Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) extract (Holixer(TM)) on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress. Front Nutr. 2022;9:965130. PMID: 36185698. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.965130.
  9. Saxena RC, Singh R, Kumar P, Negi MP, Saxena VS, Geetharani P, et al. Efficacy of an Extract of Ocimum tenuiflorum (OciBest) in the Management of General Stress: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:894509. PMID: 21977056. doi: 10.1155/2012/894509.
  10. Sampath S, Mahapatra SC, Padhi MM, Sharma R, Talwar A. Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract enhances specific cognitive parameters in healthy adult volunteers: A placebo controlled study. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2015;59(1):69-77. PMID: 26571987.
  11. Mondal S, Varma S, Bamola VD, Naik SN, Mirdha BR, Padhi MM, et al. Double-blinded randomized controlled trial for immunomodulatory effects of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract on healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;136(3):452-6. PMID: 21619917. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.05.012.
  12. Agrawal P, Rai V, Singh RB. Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996;34(9):406-9. PMID: 8880292.
  13. Satapathy S, Das N, Bandyopadhyay D, Mahapatra SC, Sahu DS, Meda M. Effect of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) Supplementation on Metabolic Parameters and Liver Enzymes in Young Overweight and Obese Subjects. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2017;32(3):357-363. PMID: 28811698. doi: 10.1007/s12291-016-0615-4.
  14. Bhattacharyya D, Sur TK, Jana U, Debnath PK. Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders. Nepal Med Coll J. 2008;10(3):176-9. PMID: 19253862.
  15. Megalaa N, Thirumurugan K, Kayalvizhi G, Sajeev R, Kayalvizhi EB, Ramesh V, et al. A comparative evaluation of the anticaries efficacy of herbal extracts (Tulsi and Black myrobalans) and sodium fluoride as mouthrinses in children: A randomized controlled trial. Indian J Dent Res. 2018;29(6):760-767. PMID: 30589005. doi: 10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_790_16.
  16. Cohen MM. Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014;5(4):251-9. PMID: 25624701. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.146554.
  17. Jothie Richard E, Illuri R, Bethapudi B, Anandhakumar S, Bhaskar A, Chinampudur Velusami C, et al. Anti-stress Activity of Ocimum sanctum: Possible Effects on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. Phytother Res. 2016;30(5):805-14. PMID: 26899341. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5584.
  18. Hannan JM, Marenah L, Ali L, Rokeya B, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts stimulate insulin secretion from perfused pancreas, isolated islets and clonal pancreatic beta-cells. J Endocrinol. 2006;189(1):127-36. PMID: 16614387. doi: 10.1677/joe.1.06615.
  19. Ahmed M, Ahamed RN, Aladakatti RH, Ghosesawar MG. Reversible anti-fertility effect of benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves on sperm parameters and fructose content in rats. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2002;13(1):51-9. PMID: 12099405. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp.2002.13.1.51.
  20. Sethi J, Yadav M, Sood S, Dahiya K, Singh V. Effect of tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum Linn.) on sperm count and reproductive hormones in male albino rabbits. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010;1(4):208-10. PMID: 21455446. doi: 10.4103/0974-7788.76782.
  21. Bhamra SK, Heinrich M, Johnson MRD, Howard C, Slater A. The Cultural and Commercial Value of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.): Multidisciplinary Approaches Focusing on Species Authentication. Plants (Basel). 2022;11(22). PMID: 36432888. doi: 10.3390/plants11223160.
  22. Bast F, Rani P, Meena D. Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) in Indian subcontinent. ScientificWorldJournal. 2014;2014:847482. PMID: 24523650. doi: 10.1155/2014/847482.
  23. Gupta D, Bhaskar DJ, Gupta RK, Karim B, Jain A, Singh R, et al. A randomized controlled clinical trial of Ocimum sanctum and chlorhexidine mouthwash on dental plaque and gingival inflammation. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014;5(2):109-16. PMID: 24948862. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.131727.
  24. Penmetsa GS, Pitta SR. Efficacy of Ocimum sanctum, Aloe vera and chlorhexidine mouthwash on gingivitis: A randomized controlled comparative clinical study. Ayu. 2019;40(1):23-26. PMID: 31831965. doi: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_212_18.
  25. Srivastava A, Agarwal R, Chaturvedi TP, Chandra A, Singh OP. Clinical evaluation of the role of tulsi and turmeric in the management of oral submucous fibrosis: A pilot, prospective observational study. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2015;6(1):45-9. PMID: 25878464. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.146563.
  26. Biswas D, Naik Z, Kumar SL, Patil N, Bagewadi A. Efficacy of topical tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) paste for the management of oral submucous fibrosis - A clinical study. Indian J Dent Res. 2022;33(2):146-151. PMID: 36254950. doi: 10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_929_20.

How this page was written. Every statement links to a source we opened. PubMed IDs were checked against the NCBI database. Human studies are kept apart from laboratory and animal work, and null results are included. Read our method.

Author: Aashish Passi, Managing Director, Prabhat Ayurvedic Pharmacy. Last updated: 17 October 2026. Spotted an error? Email info@prabhatayurvedicpharmacy.in.

This page is educational and summarises published research. It is not medical advice and is not a claim for any product. Talk to a qualified doctor before using any herbal medicine, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medicines or have a medical condition.

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