Nautochilus

Ocimum · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Sparse (64 studies) · ★★☆☆☆

Nautochilus, scientifically known as Ocimum, is a versatile genus of aromatic herbs celebrated in traditional medicine worldwide. Renowned for its diverse species, including holy basil, it offers potent antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These plants are essential in herbal remedies, promoting wellness through their unique therapeutic essence.

Family
Lamiaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Leaf · Flower
Common names
Basil · Basils
Scientific synonyms
Becium · Erythrochlamys · 2 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Ocimum

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Erythrochlamys
  • Hyperaspis
  • Albahacas

German:

  • Basilikum
  • Basilikum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Lamiales
Family Lamiaceae
Genus Ocimum

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed in Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is commonly found throughout Germany. The species also inhabits Southeastern Europe, specifically within the territories of Bulgaria and Romania. Finally, its distribution extends into Eastern Europe, covering parts of South European Russia.

Region Area
Northern Europe Great Britain
Middle Europe Germany
Southeastern Europe Bulgaria
Southeastern Europe Romania
Eastern Europe South European Russia
Eastern Europe Ukraine
Northern Africa Egypt
Macaronesia Canary Is.
Macaronesia Cape Verde
West Tropical Africa Benin

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Plant Parts

Ocimum has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Plant parts reported in Ocimum
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 7 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Flower 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Root 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Stem 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Protoplasma
  2. Pharmacognosy research
  3. Bioinformation
  4. Anti-cancer drugs
  5. Nutrition and cancer
View 2 additional sources
  1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
  2. Planta medica

Flower

  1. Pharmacognosy research
  2. Bioinformation

Root

  1. Frontiers in plant science
  2. Bioinformation

Stem

  1. Bioinformation

Chemicals

Ocimum has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Terpenoids, eugenol, Flavonoids, 3-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 3-epimaslinic acid.

Chemicals reported in Ocimum
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Terpenoids 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
eugenol 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
3-Hydroxybenzoic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
3-epimaslinic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Alphitolic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Borneol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Chicoric acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
LIMONENE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Linalool 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Terpenoids

  1. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Molecular biology reports

eugenol

  1. Protoplasma
  2. Natural product research
  3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

  1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  2. Planta medica

3-Hydroxybenzoic acid

  1. Frontiers in plant science

3-epimaslinic acid

  1. Frontiers in plant science

Alphitolic acid

  1. Frontiers in plant science

Borneol

  1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Chicoric acid

  1. Frontiers in plant science

LIMONENE

  1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Linalool

  1. Protoplasma

Activities

Ocimum has 6 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Activities reported in Ocimum
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antimicrobial 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifungal 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hepatoprotective 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antimicrobial

  1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
  2. Health science reports

Anticancer

  1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Antifungal

  1. Mycoses

Antioxidant

  1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Cytotoxic

  1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Hepatoprotective

  1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Conditions

Ocimum has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, antimalarial, cancer, malaria.

Conditions investigated for Ocimum
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Alzheimer's disease 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antimalarial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cancer 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Malaria 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Alzheimer's disease

  1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Antimalarial

  1. Natural product research

Cancer

  1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Malaria

  1. Frontiers in plant science

Preparations

Ocimum has 10 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include alcoholic extracts, aqueous extracts (AEs), essential oil, extract, extracts.

Preparations reported for Ocimum
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Alcoholic extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Aqueous extracts (aes) 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Essential oil 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
High polarity extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hydroalcoholic extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Leaf extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Oil extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Water extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Alcoholic extracts

  1. ACS omega

Aqueous extracts (aes)

  1. Environmental research

Essential oil

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Extract

  1. Anti-cancer drugs

Extracts

  1. Mycoses

High polarity extracts

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroalcoholic extracts

  1. ACS omega

Leaf extract

  1. Anti-cancer drugs

Oil extracts

  1. RSC advances

Water extracts

  1. ACS omega