Basil is a popular culinary herb, and its essential oils have been used extensively for many years in food products, perfumery, and dental and oral products. Basil  has a rich, mildly peppery flavor with a trace of mint. There are dozens of  known varieties of basil of which Ocimum basilicum or Sweet Basil is the most commonly grown. Basil is native to India and Asia having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years and has been known for its medicinal value. You can buy Basil herb extract here. Basil is found in a product called Zyflamend. You can also find Zyflamend here.

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Historical uses of Basil
With so many attributes it isn't any wonder that basil has become increasingly popular over the years. Being a member of the mint family, it is not surprising to see it recommended for digestive complaints. Herbalists have recommended basil for years for stomach cramps, vomiting and constipation. Basil has been described as having a slight sedative action, which would explain why it is sometimes recommended for headaches and anxiety.

Compounds and Oils in Basil
One study found forty-five compounds through consulting literature and searching database by computer. The main constituents in volatile oil from basil are rosmarinic acid (a strong antioxidant), linalol, methylchavikol, methylcinnamat, 1, 7-dimethyl-1, 6-octadien-3-ol, and eugenol.

Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity of Basil
Basil essential oils and their principal constituents were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and mold.

Anti-tumor activity of Basil
One study shows basil leaf to inhibit carcinogen-induced tumors

Basil study
Chemomodulatory efficacy of basil leaf (Ocimum basilicum) on drug metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, and on carcinogen-induced skin and forestomach papillomagenesis.
Dasgupta T,. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Phytomedicine. 2004 Feb;11(2-3):139-51.
Basil or sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is cultivated throughout India and is known for its medicinal value. The effects of doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of hydroalcoholic extract (80% ethanol, 20% water) of the fresh leaves of basil on xenobiotic metabolizing Phase I and Phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, Glutathione content, Lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in the liver of 8-9 weeks old Swiss albino mice were examined. Furthermore, the anticarcinogenic potential of basil leaf extract was studied, using the model of Benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach and 7,12 dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-initiated skin papillomagenesis. The hepatic glutathione S-transferase and DT-diaphorase specific activities were elevated above basal level by basil leaf treatment. Basil leaf extract was very effective in elevating antioxidant enzyme response by increasing significantly the hepatic glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities. Reduced glutathione (GSH), the major intracellular antioxidant, showed a significant elevation in the liver and also in all the extrahepatic organs. In the forestomach, kidney and lung, glutathione S-transferase and DT-diaphorase levels were augmented significantly. There were significant decreases in lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Chemopreventive 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. Basil leaf, as deduced from the results, augmented mainly the Phase II enzyme activity that is associated with detoxification of xenobiotics, while inhibiting the Phase I enzyme activity. There was an induction in antioxidant level that correlates with the significant reduction of lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase formation. Moreover, Basil leaf extract was highly effective in inhibiting carcinogen-induced tumor incidence in both the tumor models at peri-initiational level.

Phenolics composition and antioxidant activity of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).
Jayasinghe C. Tokyo University of Fisheries, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jul 16;51(15):4442-9.
The antioxidant activity of a methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) was examined using different in vitro assay model systems. The crude extract was fractionated on a Sephadex LH-20 column, and six fractions were identified. The DPPH scavenging assay system and the oxidation of the soy phosphotidylcholin liposome model system were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of each fraction. Fraction IV showed the strongest activity followed by fractions V and VI. Phenolic compounds in basilbresponsible for the antioxidative activity of the fractions were characterized by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major basil antioxidant compound in fraction IV was confirmed as rosmarinic acid by (1)H NMR and characteristic fragmentations in the mass spectrum. Moreover, the native of antioxidant activity of rosmarinic acid in the liposome system was examined. The results showed that one rosmarinic acid can capture 1.52 radicals, and furthermore, the existence of a synergistic effect between alpha-tocopherol and rosmarinic acid was revealed.

Mechanism of action of antiinflammatory effect of fixed oil of Ocimum basilicum Linn (sweet basil).
College of Pharmacy (University of Delhi), Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, India.
Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Mar;37(3):248-52.
Fixed oil of Basil was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan and different other mediator-induced paw edema in rats. Significant inhibitory effect was also observed in castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. It also inhibited arachidonic acid- and leukotriene-induced paw edema. The results of antiinflammatory activity of Basil support the dual inhibition of arachidonate metabolism as indicated by its activity in inflammation models that are insensitive to selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors. On the basis of these findings, it possible to conclude that Basil may be a useful antiinflammatory agent which block both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism.

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