Author(s): Naveen Chandra, Vishwanatha U, Kiran Khatau and Dr. Sanjay Tamoli

Abstract: Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), commonly known as Holy Basil, has traditionally been used a remedy of common infections of the respiratory tract, and as an immunity booster. The herb has potential anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects. The present study evaluated the cytotoxic and phagocytic activity of a standardized extract of Ocimum sanctum (TulsiOdaat™) in mouse macrophages RAW 264.7 cell lines. Phagocytic activity was evaluated by observing the amount of engulfed zymosans (absorbance at 405 nm) isolated from yeasts. The study demonstrated that TulsiOdaat™ significantly enhanced the phagocytic activity of macrophages compared to the vehicle treated/control group at a non-toxic concentration of 3 μg/mL. The observations made in the present study confirm that TulsiOdaat™ stimulates macrophages and enhances their phagocytic activity and therefore, may have potential enhancing effects on innate immunity. The results corroborate observations of previous studies on Ocimum sanctum species, which may augment the immune response against foreign antigens or disease-causing pathogens.

DOI: 10.22271/flora.2024.v12.i2a.923