TULASI (Leaf)
Tulasi consists of dried leaf of Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Fam. Lamiacem), an erect, 30-60 cm high, much branched annual herb, found throughout the country.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Bana Tulasi, Krsnatulasi, Surasa
Assamese : Tulasi
Bengali : Tulasi
English : Sacred Basil, Holy Basil
Gujrati : Tulasi, Tulsi
Hindi : Tulasi
Kannada : Tulasi
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : Tulasi
Marathi : Tulas
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Tulasi
Tamil : Thulasi, Tulasi
Telugu : Tulasi
Urdu : Raihan, Tulsi
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Leaves 2.5-5 cm long, 1.6-3.2 cm wide, elliptic-oblong, obtuse or acute, entire or serrate, pubescent on both surfaces, petiolate, thin, petiole 1.5-3 cm long, hairy; odour, aromatic; taste, characteristic.
b) Microscopic
Leaf–
Petiole – shows cordate outline, consisting of single layered epidermis composed of thin walled, oval cells having a number of covering and glandular trichomes; covering trichomes multicellular, uniseriate 1-8 celled long, rarely slightly reflexed at tip; glandular trichomes short, sessile or with 1-2 celled stalk, and 2-8 celled, balloon-shaped head, enclosed in a cuticular bladder, measuring 22-27 n dia., upper epidermis, followed by 3-4 layers of collenchymatous and 1-2 layers of parenchymatous cells; lower epidermis followed by 1-3 layers of collenchymatous and 2-3 layers of parenchymatous cells; three vascular bundles situated centrally, middle one larger than the other two, consisting of xylem and phloem.
Midrib – epidermis, trichomes and vascular bundles similar to those of petiole, except reduced in cortical layers towards apical region of midrib.
Lamina – epidermis and trichomes similar to those of petiole on both surfaces; stomata anomocytic and diacytic present on both surfaces and slightly raised above the level of epidermis; palisade single layered followed by 4-6 layeres of closely packed spongy parenchyma with chloroplasts and oleo-resin; stomatal index 10-13-15 on upper surface and 14-15-16 on lower surface; palisade ratio 3.8; vein islet number 31-33.
Powder – Light-green; shows fragments of polygonal, less wavy walled epidermal cells in surface view, covering and glandular trichomes as a whole or in pieces, palisade and spongy parenchyma, anomocytic and diacytic stomata.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 19 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 6 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 13 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of alcoholic extract of the drug on Silica gel ‘G’ plate using Toluene: Ethylacetate (9: 1) shows in visible light nine spots at Rf. 0.03 (dark green), 0.04, 0.08 (both green), 0.12 (light green), 0.21, 0.33 (both green) 0.45 (yellowish green), 0.85 & 0.93 (both light green). Under U.V. (366 nm) eight fluorescent zones appear at Rf. 0.04, 0.30, 0.33, 0.45, 0.83 (all pink) 0.85 (blue), 0.93 (pink) & 0.98 (blue). On exposure to Iodine vapour eleven spots appear at Rf. 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, 0.21, 0.33, 0.45, 0.54, 0.75, 0.83, 0.88 and 0.93 (all yellow). On spraying with Vanillin-Sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate at 1100 Cfor ten minutes ten spots appear at Rf. 0.08 (violet), 0.12 (light violet), 0.21 (brown), 0.33 (violet), 0.45 (violet), 0.54 (blue), 0.75 (violet), 0.83 (blue), 0.93 (violet) and 0.98 (blue).
CONSTITUENTS – Essential Oil (Carvacrol, Caryophyllene, Nerol and Camphene etc.,).
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Katu, Tikta, Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna
Virya : Usna
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Dipani, Hrdya, Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vatahara, Krmighna
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Manasamitra Vataka, Tribhuvana Kirti Rasa, Mukta Pancamrt Rasa, Mahajvarankusa Rasa.
THERAPEUTIC USES – Aruci, Svasa, Hikka, Kasa, Krmiroga, Kustha, Pratisyaya, Parsvas ula
DOSE – 2-3 g. of the drug in powder form.
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