Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum
Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum, commonly known as African basil or Clove basil, is a highly aromatic perennial herb. Renowned for its distinct spicy scent, it holds significant medicinal value across Africa and Asia. It is widely utilized for its potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in traditional healing practices.
- Scientific name: Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is a member of the family Lamiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Ocimum as the subspecies Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum.
| 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 diverse geographical distribution spanning several key regions across the Atlantic and African continents. Within the Macaronesian islands, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to the mainland, it is widely distributed across West Tropical Africa. In this region, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Furthermore, its range extends through the coastal territories of 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 | Nigeria | WCVP |
Activities
Ocimum gratissimum subsp. gratissimum has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antipyretic, Repellent.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Repellent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |