Basil

A member of the labiate family, grows to a height of 20 to 45 cm, has leaves up to 5 cm long with lamiaceous glandular scales on the surface, yellowish-white to reddish flowers and dark brown fruits up to 2 cm long. Flowering time: June to September,
Fruit ripening: September to October

Basil is a popular spice and many Italian dishes, such as tomato sauce, pasta, pesto or pizza, contain basil. Basil, originally native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, is now cultivated worldwide. Basil (around 60 species are known) belongs to the labiate family and is related to herbs such as rosemary and sage.

The herb, basilici herba, is used phytotherapeutically.

Basil is also often used in the cosmetics industry as a flavoring agent, see also Basilici aetheroleum.

Ocimum basilicum root extract (INCI), Ocimum basilicum seed extract (INCI), Ocimum basilicum extract (INCI), Ocimum tenuiflorum extract (INCI)

Basil is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of between 20 and 60 cm. Its green leaves, about 6 cm long and 4 cm wide, are egg-shaped, their surface is smooth and slightly curved upwards. The typical, distinctive scent of basil is secreted by the numerous oil glands on the leaves. Basil blooms between June and September and produces relatively inconspicuous white to pale pink flowers. From these, the typical clypeus fruits of the plant family develop, with each clypeus containing one seed.

ESCOP: not processed

EMA: not processed

Commission E: negative monograph due to the content of estragole, which is suspected to be carcinogenic.

More recent studies have focused on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the plant with promising results to date. see also Basilici aetheroleum.

Basil extracts are used in cosmetic formulations.

1. Kiesewetter H. (2017) Medicinal plants in dermatology - Part 5: Basil (Omicum basilicum L.) Derm 23: 343-344
2. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industriepflanzen/arzneipflanzen/pflanzen-datenba
3. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practitioners. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 121-122
4. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/basilikum.php

5. Montag A (2023) Plants and skin. Springer-Verlag GmbH. S. 377-379