Ocimum americanum
Ocimum americanum, commonly known as American basil, is a versatile medicinal herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic properties, this plant is widely utilized in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, skin infections, and digestive issues, offering potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits for holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Ocimum americanum
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is further classified under the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation falls under the genus Ocimum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ocimum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Macaronesia region, it can be found located in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits various nations. Specifically, it is documented in countries such as Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Furthermore, the species is also widely distributed within Ghana.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
Chemicals
Ocimum americanum has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, Camphor, caryophyllene, chloroform, ethanol.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Camphor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caryophyllene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroform | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroxycinnamic acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isoledene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Ocimum americanum has 7 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Analgesic, Antifeedant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifeedant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ocimum americanum has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, chikungunya virus, inflammation, malaria, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chikungunya virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |