Singh Surender, Taneja Manish, Majumdar Dipak K
Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, University of Delhi, Pushp Vihar, Sector-III, New Delhi 110 017, India.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 May;45(5):403-12.
Seeds of Ocimum sanctum L. (Labiatae; popularly known as 'Tulsi' in Hindi and 'Holy Basil' in English) contain a pale yellow colored fixed oil. The oil possesses antiinflammatory activity due to dual inhibition of arachidonate metabolism supplemented by antihistaminic activity. The antiinflammatory activity is not dependent on the pituitary adrenal axis. The oil possesses antipyretic activity due to prostaglandin inhibition and peripherally acting analgesic activity. The oil has been found to be effective against formaldehyde or adjuvant induced arthritis and turpentine oil induced joint edema in animals. Lipoxygenase inhibitory, histamine antagonistic and antisecretory activities of the oil contribute towards antiulcer activity. The oil can inhibit enhancement of vascular capillary permeability and leucocyte migration following inflammatory stimulus. The LD50 of the oil is 42.5 ml/kg and long-term use of oil at 3 ml/kg dose does not produce any untoward effects in rats. The oil contains a-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, which on metabolism produces eicosapentaenoic acid and the same appears to be responsible for the biological activity. The oil has hypotensive, anticoagulant and immunomodulatory activities. Antioxidant property of the oil renders metabolic inhibition, chemoprevention and hypolipidaemic activity. Presence of linolenic acid in the oil imparts antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The oil alone or in combination with cloxacillin, a beta-lactamase resistant penicillin, has been found to be beneficial in bovine mastitis, an inflammatory disorder resulting from staphylococcal infection. Existence of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial activities in single entity i.e. fixed oil appears to be unique.
圣罗勒（唇形科；在印地语中通常被称为“图尔西”，在英语中被称为“神圣罗勒”）的种子含有一种浅黄色的不挥发油。该油具有抗炎活性，这是由于对花生四烯酸代谢的双重抑制，并辅以抗组胺活性。其抗炎活性不依赖于垂体 - 肾上腺轴。该油具有解热活性，这是由于对前列腺素的抑制作用以及外周作用的镇痛活性。已发现该油对动物体内甲醛或佐剂诱导的关节炎以及松节油诱导的关节水肿有效。该油的脂氧合酶抑制、组胺拮抗和抗分泌活性有助于其抗溃疡活性。该油可以抑制炎症刺激后血管毛细血管通透性的增强和白细胞迁移。该油的半数致死量为42.5毫升/千克，以3毫升/千克的剂量长期使用该油对大鼠不会产生任何不良影响。该油含有α-亚麻酸，一种ω-3脂肪酸，其在代谢后产生二十碳五烯酸，这似乎是其生物活性的原因。该油具有降压、抗凝和免疫调节活性。该油的抗氧化特性赋予其代谢抑制、化学预防和降血脂活性。该油中存在的亚麻酸赋予其对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌活性。已发现该油单独使用或与氯唑西林（一种β-内酰胺酶抗性青霉素）联合使用对牛乳腺炎有益，牛乳腺炎是一种由葡萄球菌感染引起的炎症性疾病。单一实体即不挥发油中存在抗炎、镇痛和抗菌活性似乎是独一无二的。
