Pharmacognostical and biochemical investigation of Ocimum kilimandscharicum plants available in western Himalayan region

India has a rich heritage of plants as medicines; Indian systems of medicines utilize 80 percent of the material derived from the plants. Himalaya are a rich repository of tradition, culture and heritage. The diversified topography, soil and microclimatic zones of Himalayan regions have resulted occurrence of several valuable and economically important medicinal and aromatic plants of great therapeutic value. The use of plants as sources of medicines are human substance has been in vogue since antiquity. Large numbers of plants are utilized in various systems of medicine practiced in India and local health traditions for the treatment of human diseases since time immemorial. Ocimum kilimandscharicum Gurke. is used for thousands of years in Ayurveda for its diverse healing properties. Tulsi is the legendary ‘Incomparable one’ of India, is one of the holiest and most cherished of the many healing and healthy giving herbs of the orient. The paper comprises to determine the pharmacognostical parameters and elemental evaluation along with nutritional components and preliminary phytochemical investigation of the Ocimum kilimandscharicum available in western Himalayan region. It was concluded from the study that the aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum from western Himalaya is very good source of minerals and other phytochemicals, which are biologically active substances responsible for various therapeutic potential.

Author(s): Devesh Tewari*, H. K. Pandey, A. N. Sah, H. S. Meena and A. Manchanda

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