African blue basil
Ocimum kilimandscharicum · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (262 studies) · ★★★★★
African blue basil, scientifically known as Ocimum kilimandscharicum, is a distinctive aromatic herb native to the highlands of East Africa. Renowned for its striking indigo flowers and pungent fragrance, this medicinal plant is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat respiratory ailments, digestive issues, and to promote overall wellness.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Leaf
- Common names
- African Blue Basil · Camphor Basil
- Scientific synonyms
- Ocimum Johnstonii · Ocimum Tortuosum
Names
Common Names
- African blue basil
- camphor basil
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Kampferbasilikum
French:
- Basilic camphré
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Ocimum kilimandscharicumSynonyms
- Ocimum johnstonii
- Ocimum tortuosum
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.
| 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 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Uganda | WCVP |
| South Tropical Africa | Angola | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, is primarily valued for its aromatic leaves, which serve as the main source of its therapeutic compounds. When these foliage components are processed, the resulting leaf extract is utilized in various traditional medicinal applications to harness its potent biological activities.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Protoplasma (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
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.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| camphor | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| LIMONENE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eugenol | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,8-Cineole | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALPHA-PINENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-PINENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BORNYL ACETATE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CALCIUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CAMPHENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
camphor
- Dr. Duke
- Natural product research
- PloS one
LIMONENE
- Dr. Duke
- PloS one
eugenol
- Dr. Duke
- Natural product research
1,8-Cineole
- Dr. Duke
ALPHA-PINENE
- Dr. Duke
BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE
- Dr. Duke
BETA-PINENE
- Dr. Duke
BORNYL ACETATE
- Dr. Duke
CALCIUM
- Natural product research
CAMPHENE
- 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.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gastroprotective | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ACE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AChE-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allelochemic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Ocimum kilimandscharicum has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Bacillus subtilis | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterococcus faecalis | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-negative bacteria | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gram-positive bacteria | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infectious diseases | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| melanoma | Protoplasma (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| O. kilimandscharicum leaf extract | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of leaves | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| callus cultures | Protoplasma (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extract of leaves | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| total plant extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |