Basil (Ocimum basilicum)/ Holy Basil

“Basil” comes from Latin, basilius meaning “royal/kingly plant”. Native to Southeast Asia. Also known as great basil. It belongs to the species of the genus Ocimum. It is estimated that there are 50 to 150 species, it is because basil can cross-breeds easily.

Nutritional and medical value:

Benefits

Basil contains a wide range of essential oils, rich in phenolic compounds, and a wide array of other natural products including polyphenols such as flavonoids and anthocyanins .

Grow in simple and fast way

• Take the fresh plant of basil.
• Cut the stem just below the node of around 4inch length.   
• Put the cut stems in fresh water 
• New roots will grow just in 10days 
• Let the roots get strong for a week more and they will be ready to be transplant 
• Plant them in a new pot and the plant will start growing into a new adult one. 

Uses

Medical value:

• Treating arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases as it contains (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP)
• Fighting cancer :- It contains Phytochemicals, including eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, myretenal, luteolin, β-sitosterol, and carnosic acid, it may help prevent certain types of skin, liver, oral, and lung cancers .
• Antioxidant Activity
• Anti-aging properties
• Antibacterial properties

Interesting facts:

• In Greece where it was known as basilikon phuton, meaning magnificent, royal, orkingly herb and was a symbol of mourning.
• Basil also has a strong history inancient traditional medicines like Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system of ancient India, in addition to other medicinal herbal traditions.
• It was used as an antidote for snake bites, and was believed to give strength during religious fasting.
• It is believed that basil have been found around Christ’s tomb after his resurrection. The Serbian Orthodox Church, Macedonian Orthodox Church and Romanian Orthodox Church use basil to prepare holy water and pots of basil are often placed below church altars.
• The name “basil”comes from Latin, basilius, and Greek βασιλικόν φυτόν (basilikón phutón), “royal/kingly plant”. This is because it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.

Reference:

1. http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/property/how-to-make-your-supermarket-basil-last-longer-1-5268631 .
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425.php
4. https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-575.html
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23682780