African blue basil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African blue basil
• camphor basil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ocimum johnstonii
• Ocimum tortuosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Ocimum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the territories of Ethiopia as well as Sudan and South Sudan. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, its presence extends into the landscapes of Kenya. It is also commonly documented growing throughout the country of Uganda. Finally, the species completes its regional range within the borders of Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ocimum kilimandscharicum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological classification, it exhibits a dual life form complexity; it is categorized as a phanerophyte, possessing visible stems above the ground, while also displaying characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, where the shoot system remains relatively low to the ground.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ocimum kilimandscharicum is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting structure that does not require external support to maintain its posture. The plant typically reaches an average height of 1.5 m, establishing itself as an independent organism that does not function as a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte, maintaining a robust, woody constitution throughout its development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ocimum kilimandscharicum is characterized by complex metabolic pathways primarily focused on the biosynthesis of volatile essential oils within specialized glandular trichomes located on the leaf surfaces. These trichomes act as specialized secretory structures that manage the storage and controlled release of bioactive terpenoids. The plant's carbon assimilation is driven by C3 photosynthetic processes, where light energy is converted into chemical energy to support rapid vegetative growth and the production of secondary metabolites. Regarding its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, relying instead on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen sources from the soil. Its physiological resilience is further marked by efficient transpiration regulation and a robust secondary metabolism that serves as a chemical defense mechanism against herbivory and environmental stressors.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Protoplasma
2. Natural product research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include camphor, LIMONENE, eugenol, 1,8-Cineole, ALPHA-PINENE.

camphor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. PloS one

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one

eugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

BORNYL ACETATE

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Natural product research

CAMPHENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 192 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Gastroprotective, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

Gastroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Natural product communications

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Natural product communications

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Natural product communications

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Natural product communications

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Natural product communications

Streptococcus mutans

1. Natural product communications

Fungi

1. Natural product communications

Infectious diseases

1. Natural product research

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Melanoma

1. Protoplasma

Preparations

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include O. kilimandscharicum leaf extract, aqueous extract, aqueous extract of leaves, callus cultures, ethanol extract of leaves.

O. kilimandscharicum leaf extract

1. PloS one

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract of leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Callus cultures

1. Protoplasma

Ethanol extract of leaves

1. Natural product research

Leaf extract

1. Natural product research

Total plant extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology