Herb Profile
Ocimum Basilicum
Botanical profile with evidence, safety, and practical fit.
Last reviewed: •3 human studies cited
C PreliminaryUse extra caution — Culinary basil is low risk, but essential oils/extracts differ; caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelets, pregnancy, children, liver disease, and high methyleugenol concentrated products. Details
- Evidence
- Strong Human Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Sleep, Stress, Cognitive function, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision, Known Allergy To The Plant/Family, Bleeding Disorder Or Upcoming Surgery
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Ocimum Basilicum
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Where to go next — guides & comparisons
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Safety & Cautions
Culinary basil is low risk, but essential oils/extracts differ; caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelets, pregnancy, children, liver disease, and high methyleugenol concentrated products.
28%
High caution — review carefully
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision
- - Known Allergy To The Plant/Family
- - Bleeding Disorder Or Upcoming Surgery
- - Seizure Disorder Or Sedative/Alcohol Use
- - Potential Interaction Concern With Antidiabetic Medicines
- - Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets
- - Sedatives/CNS Depressants
- - Immunosuppressants
- - Use Clinician Review For High Dose Extracts Or Chronic Use.
Safety classifications
- - Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- - Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
- - Anticoagulant Caution: Bleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Full safety note
- - Culinary basil is low risk, but essential oils/extracts differ; caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelets, pregnancy, children, liver disease, and high methyleugenol concentrated products.
Safety labels
- - Interaction-Aware
- - Liver-Sensitive
- - Anticoagulant Caution
- - Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Bleeding / anticoagulant risk
- aescin
- Aged Garlic Extract
- ajoene
- Ajwain
- Allicin
- Garlic
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Angelica Archangelica
- Angelica Dahurica
- Angelica Pubescens
- Angelica Root
- Angelica Sinensis
- Arjuna
- Artemisia Capillaris
- Artichoke
- Ashitaba
- Ashitaba Extract
- Astaxanthin
- Berberis
- Black Seed
- Black Seed Oil
- Blueberry
- Boldo
- Boswellia
- Capsicum
- Caraway
- Carnitine L Tartrate
- Cayenne
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Chuanxiong
- Cissus
- Citicoline
- Clove
- Cnidium Monnieri
- Coleus Forskohlii
- Commiphora Mukul
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cordyceps
- Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
- crocetin
- crocin
- cryptotanshinone
- Curcuma Wenyujin
- Curcumin
- Damiana
- Danshen
- Devils Claw Extract
- Dong Quai
- EGCG
- Epimedium
- Epimedium Brevicornum
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek Extract
- ferulic acid
- Feverfew
- Fisetin
- forskolin
- Fraxinus Rhynchophylla
- Fucoxanthin
- Galangal
- Reishi
- Garcinia Mangostana
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Garlic Aged Extract
- Garlic Extract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Ginkgo
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
- Ginkgo Extract EGb 761
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- ginsenoside rg3
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Lion's Mane
- Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- Horse Chestnut
- hydroxytyrosol
- Japanese Knotweed
- Kudzu
- L-Carnitine
- Ligusticum Chuanxiong
- Magnolia
- Mangosteen
- Maral Root
- Chamomile
- Melatonin
- MSM
- Myrtle
- Nettle Root
- Nigella Sativa
- Noni
- Notoginseng
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Oregano
- Paeonia Lactiflora
- Asian Ginseng
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- Papaya Leaf
- Pastinaca Sativa
- Pau D'arco
- Perilla
- Phosphatidylserine
- Piper Longum
- Bifidobacterium Probiotic
- Lactobacillus Probiotic
- Probiotics - Bifidobacterium spp.
- Probiotics - Lactobacillus spp.
- Psoralea Corylifolia
- Pycnogenol
- Quercetin
- Quercetin Phytosome
- Red Clover
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Resveratrol
- Rhodiola Extract SHR-5
- Rose Hips
- Rosemary
- Saffron
- Saffron Extract
- Salvia miltiorrhiza
- Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
- Saw Palmetto Extract
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Selaginella Tamariscina
- Soybean
- Syzygium Aromaticum
- Terminalia arjuna
- Thunder God Vine
- Thyme
- Tongkat Ali
- Trans-Resveratrol
- Fenugreek
- Tripterygium Wilfordii
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Turmeric Curcumin + Piperine
- Valerian
- Vitamin D3 + K2
- Grape
- White Peony
- Willow Bark Extract
- Yarrow
Moderate Caution
178 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering · Sedation / CNS depression
Moderate Caution
178 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering · Sedation / CNS depression
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Blood-sugar lowering
- Acarbose
- ajoene
- Allicin
- Aloe Vera
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid
- American Ginseng Extract
- Andrographis
- Anemarrhena Asphodeloides
- Tarragon
- Ashoka
- Astragalus
- Astragalus Membranaceus
- Bael
- Berberis
- Berberis Vulgaris
- Black Seed
- Blueberry
- Buckwheat
- Burdock
- Caraway
- Cichorium Intybus
- Cinnamon
- Cinnamon extract
- Cissus
- Cistanche
- Cistanche Deserticola
- Citrus Bergamia
- Citrus Sinensis
- CJC-1295
- Coenzyme Q10
- Commiphora Mukul
- Coptis
- Coptis Chinensis
- Coriandrum Sativum
- Cornus Officinalis
- Curry Leaf
- D-Mannose
- D-Ribose
- Damiana
- Dandelion
- Dendrobium
- Devils Claw Extract
- Elderberry
- Elecampane
- Eucommia
- Fenugreek
- Fenugreek Extract
- Fingerroot
- Fisetin
- Fucoxanthin
- Garcinia Indica
- Garlic Extract
- Ginkgo Biloba Extract
- Panax Red Ginseng
- Panax White Ginseng
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Gudmar
- Gymnema
- Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- Holy Basil Purple
- Holy Basil Seed
- Ipamorelin
- Jujube
- Kuding Tea
- Kudzu
- Banaba
- Luo Han Guo
- Mangifera Indica
- Marshmallow
- MCT Oil
- Bitter Melon
- Morinda Citrifolia
- Moringa
- Morus Alba
- Mulberry Leaf
- Myrtle
- Neem
- Nelumbo Nucifera
- Nettle Root
- Nigella Sativa
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
- Notoginseng
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Oregano
- Panax Ginseng Extract
- American Ginseng
- Papaya Leaf
- Phellodendron
- Phellodendron Amurense
- Psyllium
- Pueraria Lobata
- Pycnogenol
- Rehmannia Glutinosa
- Rehmannia Prepared
- Rice Bran
- Rooibos
- Roselle Seed
- Sage
- Salacia
- Semaglutide
- Serenoa Repens
- Shatavari
- Soursop
- Tamarind
- Tirzepatide
- Tongkat Ali
- Fenugreek
- Wild Yam
- Ashwagandha
Sedation / CNS depression
- American Yellow Lotus
- Artemisia Absinthium
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Bacopa
- Black Seed
- Black Tea
- Blue Lotus
- Calamus
- Catuba
- Celastrus Paniculatus
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Coriandrum Sativum
- Corydalis
- Cymbopogon Citratus
- Damiana
- California Poppy
- Eucalyptus
- Gastrodia
- Glycine
- Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
- Hops
- Hypericum Perforatum
- Jatamansi
- Jujube
- Lavender
- Lavender
- Lavender Extract
- Lemon balm
- Lemon Balm Extract
- Lemon Verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lobelia Inflata
- Longan
- Magnolia
- Melatonin
- Lemon Balm
- Milk Oats
- Mugwort
- Muira Puama
- Myristica Fragrans
- Nicotiana Glauca
- Nicotiana Tabacum
- Oatstraw
- Parsley
- Passionflower
- Passionflower
- Passionflower Extract
- Passionflower Extract (Standardized)
- Kava
- Polygala
- Poria
- Raspberry Leaf
- Sage
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Skullcap
- Shankhpushpi
- Sophora Flavescens
- theanine
- Valeriana officinalis
- Valerian Extract (Standardized)
- Valerian Root Extract
- Valerian
- Verbena Officinalis
- Ashwagandha
- Wormwood
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Most useful for practical interpretation when safety context also fits.
StrongStrong Human Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Oxidative Stress Modulation · Metabolic Regulation
Research maturity: Preliminary or mixed — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Culinary basil is low risk, but essential oils/extracts differ; caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelets, pregnancy, children, liver disease, and high methyleugenol concentrated products.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
PubMed indexed authors (2006) | — | — | PubMed → |
Antimicrobial and Other Pharmacological Properties of Ocimum basilicum, Lamiaceae Zhakipbekov K et al. (2024) | — | — | PubMed → |
Oyeniran OH et al. (2024) | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
Dose guidance
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Preparation varies by tradition and product form and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Ocimum Basilicum Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Ocimum Basilicum Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways
Preclinical pathways
Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.
Inflammatory Signaling ModulationOxidative Stress ModulationMetabolic RegulationNeurotransmitter ModulationStress Response ModulationNF KB Modulation
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Ocimum Basilicum, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Condition guides
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Ocimum Basilicum
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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Botanical profile context
How to interpret Ocimum Basilicum
Ocimum Basilicum dosage ranges, effects, drug interactions, and harm-reduction safety guide for sleep. Strong Human Evidence research evidence. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.
When reviewing Ocimum Basilicum, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.
For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.