Additional notes (click to expand)

Toxicity

Ocimum gratissimum contains citral a monterpene alkaloid. There was an increased incidence in malignant lymphomas in female mice, but not in rats or male mice. No definite evidence of genotoxicity found though 'positive results in sister chromatid exchange assay.' Ocimum basilicum contains estragole and safrole, alkylbenzenes, which are carcinogenic and genotoxic in rodents
van den Berg, S.J.P.L., Restani, et al., P.. (2011). Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Compounds in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment. Food and Nutrition Science 2: 989-1010. link

Ocimum gratissimum L.

Family: LAMIACEAE
Genus: Ocimum
Species: gratissimum L.
Common names: African Basil
Distribution summary: Africa, Yemen, Tropical Asia
Garden status: Not currently grown
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use


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