Holy Basil Supplements Review

Find the Best Holy Basil (Tulsi) Supplements. Tests and Reviews of Popular Holy Basil Supplements & CL's Top Pick.

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initially Posted: 03/14/2020

Holy Basil Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

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Table of Contents

Summary

· What is holy basil? Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a shrub in the basil family. Holy basil is also called by its Ayurvedic name, "tulsi". The leaves of holy basil contain compounds call triterpenes, including oleanolic and ursolic acid, that laboratory tests show to have anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar lowering and immune system effects. Holy basil leaves also contain eugenol, which may have analgesic effects. In supplements, holy basil is typically sold as a leaf powder (whole, dry crushed leaves) or as an extract (powder or liquid) (see What It Is).

· What does holy basil do? Preliminary clinical studies suggest holy basil may reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety and may modestly lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the chemical make-up of holy basil extracts and powders used in some of these studies was not well defined, and more research is needed to confirm these findings (see What It Does).

· What did CL's tests of holy basil find? Most of the holy basil supplements ConsumerLab tested failed to contain even the minimum amount of total triterpenes expected or claimed on the label. Amounts of triterpenes in holy basil supplements varied widely — from as little as 0.43 mg to 34.8. mg per suggested serving, and only 3 of the 8 products tested contained their expected amounts. In addition, one product was found to be contaminated with lead (see What CL Found).

· Which is the best holy basil supplement? Among the products that passed all tests and were Approved, ConsumerLab selected one that provided the best quality and value as its Top Pick for Holy Basil.

· Safety and side effects of holy basil: Holy basil may cause nausea or diarrhea. Due to its potential blood sugar lowering effect, it should be used with caution in people with hypoglycemia and those taking blood sugar lowering medications. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take holy basil. (See Concerns and Cautions).

What It Is:

Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a shrub in the basil family, thought to have originated in India. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil is called "tulsi," "The Queen of Herbs" and "the elixir of life" (Cohen, J Ayurveda Integr Med 2014).

The leaves and stems of holy basil contain a wide variety of compounds including the triterpenes oleanolic acid and ursolic acid as well as saponins, flavonoids, and phenols such as eugenol.

Eugenol is thought to be responsible for analgesic effects and, to some extent, blood-sugar lowering effects (Jamshidi, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2017). It comprises approximately 40% to 70% of essential oil derived from holy basil leaves (Prakash, Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; Khanna, J Ethnopharmacol 2003). Ursolic acid, which is found in other herbs such as lavender, oregano, thyme, cloves, and in apple peels, has been shown in laboratory and animal studies to have anti-inflammatory, tumor-inhibiting and blood-sugar lowering effects (Lee, EXCLI J 2016).

Holy basil supplements are typically sold as leaf powder (whole, dry, crushed leaves) or as an extract (liquid or powder). Extracts may be standardized to amounts of triterpenes (oleanolic acid and/or ursolic acid), or, less commonly, eugenol. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has established the identity and quality of holy basil leaf based on the weight of these two triterpenes, which should represent at least 0.5% of the weight of the ingredient. Although extracts would typically be expected to have a higher concentration of these triterpenes than a leaf powder, the USP has not yet established such a standard for holy basil leaf extract, other than it should provide 90% to 125% of the claimed amount of triterpenes. (Nevertheless, ConsumerLab expects extracts to not only meet the 90% to 125% requirement, but also the minimum requirements of leaf powders.)

Holy basil seed oil does not appear to be widely available. The seed oil contains linoleic acid (52%), linolenic acid (17%), oleic acid (14%), palmitic acid (12%), and stearic acid (3%) and has been shown in laboratory and animal studies to have antibacterial and blood-sugar lowering effects (Singh, Indian J Exp Biol 2005; Pattanayak, Pharmacogn Rev 2010; Sarkar Ind, J Physiol Pharmae 1989).

What It Does:

Preliminary clinical studies suggest holy basil may reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety and may modestly lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the chemical make-up of holy basil extracts and powders used in some of these studies was not well defined, and more research is needed to confirm these findings. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil, or "tulsi," is used to boost general health, well-being and longevity and assist in dealing with the stresses of daily life (Cohen, J Ayurveda Integr Med 2014).

Anxiety and stress
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study among 40 healthy young men found that 300 mg of holy basil leaf extract (standardized to 2.7% ursolic acid) taken once daily (i.e., 8.1 mg of triterpenes) for one month improved certain measures of cognition, such as reaction time and short-term memory, but did not decrease anxiety or levels of salivary cortisol (a "stress" hormone), compared to placebo. One participant taking the extract experienced nausea and subsequently discontinued supplementation (Sampath, Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2015).

In a study among 158 men and women (average age 47) who reported suffering from three or more symptoms of stress (such as headache, fatigue, forgetfulness, avoiding people, or sleep disturbances), a branded holy basil leaf extract taken once daily for six weeks improved self-reported measures of overall stress by 39% compared to placebo. None of the participants reported any adverse effects. The extract (OciBest, Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., India) was taken twice daily (400 mg with breakfast and 800 mg with dinner — a daily total of 1,200 mg). OciBest is standardized to contain >2.5% w/w triterpene acids (oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) (i.e., at least 30 mg of triterpenes per day) and >0.1% w/w ociglycoside-I, >0.2% w/w rosmarinic acid (Saxena, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012). (OciBest does not appear to be sold as a single ingredient product in the U.S. but is one of several ingredients in LifeExtension Adrenal Energy Formula — not tested in this Review -- which lists 600 mg of OciBest per 2 capsule serving, to be taken twice daily, i.e., yielding a similar amount used in the described study.)

A study among 35 men and women (average age 38) with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who were not taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications found that a capsule containing 500 mg of holy basil leaf extract taken twice daily after a meal for two months reduced symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression compared to before supplementation, but this study did not include a control or placebo group, so it is not possible to draw conclusions from this study. The amount of ursolic acid and eugenol in the extract was not provided (Bhattacharyya, Nepal Med Coll J 2008).

Diabetes and lowering blood sugar
In a study among men and women with type 2 diabetes, 2.5 grams of holy basil leaf powder added to 7 ounces of water and consumed every morning for one month reduced fasting blood sugar and blood sugar levels after eating by 17.6% and 7.3%, respectively, compared to placebo (Agrawal, Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996). Another study among men and women with type 2 diabetes reported that those who took 500 mg of holy basil leaf in addition to the anti-diabetes drug glibenclamide (5 mg) daily for one month had modestly greater decreases than those who took only glibenclamide with regard to fasting blood sugar (- 40% vs - 34%) and HbA1c ( - 30% vs. - 36%). However, the results were not analyzed to see whether these differences were statistically significant, so it is not possible to draw conclusions from this study. In addition, no details were provided about the holy basil used in the study (i.e. whether it was a powder or an extract, how much ursolic acid and or eugenol it contained, etc.). One 250 mg capsule of holy basil leaf was taken 30 minutes before breakfast, and a second capsule was taken 30 minutes before dinner daily (Somasunaram, Int J Life Sci Pharma Res 2012).

Immune system
There do not appear to be published studies on the effects of holy basil on illnesses such as colds and flu. However, a study among 22 healthy adults (average age 26) found that taking 300 mg of holy basil leaf extract on an empty stomach once daily for one month increased levels of immune system proteins (interferon-y) and cells (T-helper cells and NK-cells) compared to placebo (Mondal, J Ethnopharmacol 2011).

Arthritis pain and inflammation
Possibly due to its purported anti-inflammatory effects and the analgesic effects of eugenol, holy basil leaf extract has been promoted to reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis. While several animal studies suggest it may decrease pain (Khanna, J Ethnopharmacol 2003; Godhwani, J Ethnopharmacol 1987), there do not appear to be studies on the effects of holy basil in people with arthritis or other conditions that cause pain.

Quality Concerns and Tests Performed:

Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests holy basil supplements, or other dietary supplements, for quality prior to sale. Quality issues for holy basil supplements can include the following:

· Labeled Amount — Does the product really contain the labeled and/or expected amounts of triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid).

· Purity — Does the product contain potentially dangerous amounts of toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which plants may be absorbed from the soil in which they are grown. This is of particular concern with products containing whole holy basil powders, as opposed to extracts, since contaminants are often removed during the extraction process.

ConsumerLab.com, as part of its mission to independently evaluate products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition, purchased many leading holy basil supplements sold in the U.S. Products listing whole herbs as ingredients were tested to determine whether they were free of unacceptable levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury.

Products were also tested to determine if they possessed the specific compounds expected of holy basil. Holy basil products should contain ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, compounds thought to be responsible for some it the herb's anti-inflammatory effects. The specific amounts to be expected of these compounds has not been well defined although a minimum has been established by the USP and was applied by ConsumerLab. See Testing Methods and Passing Score for more details.

What CL Found:

ConsumerLab.com's testing revealed problems with over half of the products selected for review. Only three of the eight supplements ConsumerLab selected for testing passed our tests and were Approved.

The five products that failed testing are designated as "Not Approved" in the results table. As shown in the table and described below, each was found to contain a much lower amount of total triterpenes and/or ursolic acid than claimed or expected. One of these products was also contaminated with lead. These results were confirmed in a second, independent laboratory.

· Best Naturals Holy Basil Extract contained just 0.66 mg of ursolic acid per Vcap instead of its claimed 10 mg — that's just 6.6% of what is promised! It was also low in total triterpenes -- which should have been at least 10 mg (from the claimed ursolic acid) but totaled only 1.1 mg. As noted in the 3^rd column of the results table, the extract was only 0.22% total triterpenes on a weight/weight basis, failing to meet even the minimum expected amount (0.5%) for a leaf powder.

· Herb Pharm Holy Basil liquid extract contained only 0.43 mg of total triterpenes per dropperful instead of a minimum expected amount of 1.2 mg — so just 37% of what was expected. The expected amount of total triterpenes was calculated from the claimed amount of herb equivalent for the liquid extract.

· Bulk-Supplements.com Holy Basil, a leaf powder, contained only 1.2 mg of total triterpenes per ½ teaspoon (500 mg) serving, which is just under half the expected amount of 2.5 mg for leaf powder. This product was also discovered to be contaminated with a small, but avoidable, amount of lead. It contained 1.22 mcg per ½ teaspoon. If taken twice daily, this would be a total of 2.44 mcg of lead per day. According to the FDA, on a long-term basis adults can tolerate up to 12.5 mcg of lead daily from their total diet and children can only tolerate about 3 mcg.

· Oregon's Wild Harvest Holy Basil leaf powder contained only 2.9 mg of total triterpenes per 2-capsule serving instead of the 4 mg expected from this much leaf powder.

· Organic India Tulsi-Holy Basil, a blended leaf powder (holy basil leaf and East Indian basil leaf) contained just 1.8 mg of total triterpenes per 3-capsule (900 mg) serving. This is much less than 4.5 mg to 9 mg expected from this combination. East Indian basil leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) itself is supposed to contain 1% ursolic acid (Silva, Molecules 2008), so if this combination were mostly East Indian basil leaf, 9 mg of ursolic acid would be expected, but only 0.9 mg was found. If it were mostly holy basil leaf one would expect 4.5 mg of total triterpenes, but only 1.8 mg was found.

Wide range of triterpenes, oleanolic and ursolic acids
Amounts of total triterpenes per serving varied widely across all of the products, from as much as 34.8 mg in 2 capsules of Vitacost Holy Basil Extract to as little as 0.43 mg per dropperful of Herb Pharm Holy Basil (to be taken 2 to 4 times daily) as shown in the graph below. Total triterpenes were calculated as the amounts of oleanolic acid (shown in green) and ursolic acid (shown in brown) combined.

Boron per Pill or Unit

As the chemical components of the holy basil powders and extracts used in clinical studies have not always been well defined, it's difficult to say what amounts of oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and total triterpenes are needed for beneficial effects. However, based on our analysis of the placebo-controlled studies presented in the What It Does section, a daily dose of holy basil providing about 8 mg of triterpenes showed some benefit on cognition but not anxiety, while a dose of 30 mg per day appeared to reduce symptoms of stress.

Two of the three Approved products provided these amounts of total triterpenes when taken at their suggested daily servings: Himalaya Holy Basil provides 10.4 mg (one capsule twice daily) and Vitacost Holy Basil provides 34.8 mg in its suggested 2 capsule serving. The third Approved product, Gaia Herbs Holy Basil Leaf, comes close at 6.9 mg from its suggested daily serving of 40 drops (added to water) taken three times daily.

Cost
As shown in the graph below, the cost to get 1 mg of triterpenes ranged among products from as little as 1 cent from Vitacost Holy Basil Extract to as much as 72 cents from Herb Pharm Holy Basil (which was Not Approved).

Cost Per 1 mg of Triterpenes* in Holy Basil Supplement

Top Pick:

ConsumerLab's Top Pick among holy basil supplements is Vitacost Holy Basil Extract. It provides 34.8 mg of total triterpenes (17.8 mg oleanolic acid and 17 mg ursolic acid) per 2-capsule serving for 20 cents.

Himalaya Holy Basil is another good option, providing 10.4 mg of triterpenes from one capsule taken twice daily, but it is considerably more expensive (50 cents per day) for a lower amount of triterpenes. It is a combination of two types of extracts and a leaf powder, so may provide a broad range of compounds.

If you prefer a liquid, Gaia Herbs Holy Basil Leaf Extract provides 6.9 mg of triterpenes in a daily serving (40 drops or 1.33 ml three times daily) but is much more expensive at 65 cents per serving and $1.95 per day.

Test Results by Product:

Listed below are the test results for eight holy basil supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab. They are listed alphabetically within three categories: 1) extracts, 2) leaf powders, and 3) extract/leaf powder combinations. Shown for each product is the claimed amount of holy basil extract or leaf powder, the serving size recommended on the label, the amounts of total triterpenes as well as ursolic and oleanolic acids found in testing, and whether or not the product passed heavy metal testing. Products listed as "Approved" met their label claims and ConsumerLab.com's quality criteria (see Passing Score). Those that did not are listed as "Not Approved" with an explanation of the problem found. Price comparisons are in the fourth column, special features per daily serving and pill size are listed in the fifth column, and the full list of ingredients is in last column.

Results of ConsumerLab.com Testing of HOLY BASIL SUPPLEMENTS

(Click arrows or swipe left or right to see all columns)

Approval Status

Product Name
(Suggested Serving on Label)

Suggested Serving and Claimed Amounts of Holy Basil and Triterpenesⓘ

Directions

TEST RESULTS:
Plant Compounds Per Suggested Servingⓘ

Heavy Metalsⓘ

Cost per Serving

[Cost per 1 mg Total Triterpenes Found]

Price & Sizeⓘ

Notable Features

Full List of Ingredients Per Serving

Holy Basil Extracts:

NOT APPROVED

Best Naturals® Holy Basil Extract

Dist. by Best Naturals

1 Vcap

500 mg extract

10 mg ursolic acid
✗

Take one (1) capsule one to two times daily, preferably with food or as directed by your qualified healthcare professional.

1 Vcap

Found:
Total triterpenes: 1.1 mg (Expected at least 10 mg based on claimed ursolic acid. Only 0.22% wt/wt of extractⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 0.42 mg

Ursolic acid: 0.66 mg (only 6.6% of listed amount)

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.08/Vcap

[$0.08]

$9.79/120 Vcaps

Large Vcap

No Artificial Color, Flavor or Sweetener, No Preservatives, No Sugar, No Starch, No Milk, No Lactose, No Soy, No Gluten, No Wheat, No Yeast, No Fish, Sodium Free.

1 Vcap

Holy Basil Extract (Tulsi Extract) (Leaves (Ocimum Tenuiflorum) (Standardized to min. 2% Ursolic Acid) 500 mg.

Other Ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule, Silica, Vegetable Stearate.

APPROVED

Gaia® Herbs Holy Basil Leaf

Dist. by Gaia Herbs, Inc.

$ Price Check

40 drops [1.33 ml]

1.33 ml extract (equal to 442.9 mg of herb)

Adults take 30-40 drops in a small amount of water 3 times daily between meals.

40 drops [1.33 ml]

Found:
Total triterpenes: 2.3 mg (0.7% wt/wt of claimed herbⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 1.3 mg

Ursolic acid: 1 mg

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.65/40 drops

[$0.28]

$14.99/1 fl oz [30 ml] bottle (approx. 23 servings)

Liquid from bottle

USDA Organic seal.

40 drops

Organic Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaf extract 1.33 ml.

Other Ingredients: Organic USP (70-80%) and water. 333 mg/ml Herb Equivalency.

NOT APPROVED

Herb Pharm® Holy Basil

Dist. by Herb Pharm

1 dropperful [0.7 ml]

612 mg extract (equal to 233 mg of herb)

Add 1 full squeeze of the dropper bulb to 2 oz. of water or juice, 2 to 4 times per day.

1 dropperful [0.7 ml]

Found:
Total triterpenes: 0.43 mg (Expected 1.2 mg. Only 0.19% wt/wt of claimed herbⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 0.11 mg

Ursolic acid: 0.32 mg

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.31/dropperful

[$0.72]

$13.05/1 fl oz [30 ml] bottle (approx. 42 servings)

Liquid from bottle

USDA Organic seal. Gluten-Free.

1 dropperful

Holy Basil herb [(Ocimum tenuiflorum) extract 612 mg].

Other Ingredients: Certified organic cane alcohol (91-81%) & distilled water. Extraction rate 233 mg herb per 0.7 ml.

APPROVED

Top Pick

Vitacost Holy Basil Extract

Dist. by Vitacost.com

2 capsules

800 mg extract

16 mg ursolic acid
✔

Take 2 capsules daily with food or as directed by a healthcare professional.

2 capsules

Found:
Total triterpenes: 34.8 mg (4.4% wt/wt of extractⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 17.8 mg

Ursolic acid: 17 mg

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.20/2 capsules

[$0.01]
Lowest cost for triterpenes from holy basil

$18.19/180 capsules

Large capsule

Free of: Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Crustacean Shellfish, Fish, Soy, Gluten, Titanium Dioxide. Vegetarian.

2 capsules

Holy Basil Extract (leaf) [standardized to 2% ursolic acid (16 mg)] 800 mg.

Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid and vegetable magnesium stearate.

Holy Basil Leaf Powders (i.e., whole leaf, not extract):

NOT APPROVED

Bulk-
Supplements.com Holy Basil

Dist. by Bulk-
Supplements.com

Scant 1/2 tsp [500 g]

500 mg leaf powder

Take 500 mg (scan 1/2 tsp) once or twice daily, or as directed by a physician.

Scant 1/2 tsp [500 g]

Found:
Total triterpenes: 1.2 mg (Expected 2.5 mg. Only 0.24% wt/wt of leaf powderⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 0.25 mg

Ursolic acid: 0.94 mg

Heavy metals:
Found 1.22 mcg to 2.44 mcg lead per daily serving (2.44 mcg per g)

$0.03/scant 1/2 tsp

[$0.03]

$14.96/8.82 oz [250 g] pouch (approx. 500 servings)

Powder in container

Free of: Sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten or additives.

Scant 1/2 tsp

Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) (leaf) 500 mg.

Other Ingredients: None.

NOT APPROVED

Oregon's Wild Harvest Holy Basil

Mfd. by Oregon's Wild Harvest

2 capsules

800 mg leaf powder

Take two capsules daily or as directed by your healthcare professional.

2 capsules

Found:
Total triterpenes: 2.9 mg (Expected 4 mg. Only 0.37% wt/wt of leaf powderⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 0.94 mg

Ursolic acid: 2 mg

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.50/2 capsules

[$0.17]

$14.96/60 capsules

Large capsule

Verified Non-GMO Ingredients. Free from: Dairy, wheat, peanuts, soy, gluten and corn allergens.

2 capsules

Organic Holy Basil leaf (Ocimum sanctum) 800 mg.

Other Ingredients: Non-GMO bovine gelatin capsule and nothing else.

NOT APPROVED

Organic India™ Tulsi-Holy Basil

Dist. by Organic India USA

3 capsules

900 mg leaf powder blend (holy basil leaf and East Indian basil leaf powders)

3 capsules once daily with food and water.

3 capsules

Found:
Total Triterpenes: 1.8 mg (Expected at least 4.5 to 9 mg depending on mix of basil leaf in blendⓘ. Only 0.2% wt/wt of total leaf powder blendⓘ)

Oleanolic Acid: 0.9 mg

Ursolic Acid: 0.9 mg (Expected at least 4.5 to 9 mg depending on mix of basil leaf in blendⓘ)

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.64/3 capsules

[$0.35]

$19.12/90 veg caps

Large veg cap

Kosher. Non GMO Project Verified seal. USDA Organic seal. Vegan. Vegetarian. Gluten Free.

3 capsules

Proprietary Organic Blend [Holy Basil leaf (Ocimum sanctum) (Krishna Tulsi and Rama varieties), East Indian Basil leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) (Vana Tulsi variety)] 900 mg.

Other Ingredients: Organic Vegetable Pullulan Capsules.

Holy Basil Extract and Leaf Powder Combination Product:

APPROVED

Himalaya® Holy Basil

Dist. by The Himalaya Drug Company

$ Price Check

1 capsule

160 mg extract

60 mg supercritical CO₂ extract

500 mg leaf powder

Adults take 1 capsule twice daily before meals.Found:

1 capsule

Found:
Total triterpenes: 5.2 mg (0.73% wt/wt of all forms of holy basilⓘ)

Oleanolic acid: 2.9 mg

Ursolic acid: 2.3 mg

Heavy metals: Pass

$0.25/capsule

[$0.05]

$14.99/60 vegetarian capsules

Large vegetarian capsule

Non GMO Project Verified seal. Gluten Free. Vegan Friendly. No Wheat. No Corn. No Soy. No Dairy. No ingredients of animal origin.

1 capsule

Organic holy basil powder (leaf) (0.4% Ursolic acid and Oleanolic acid, 2.0 mg) 500 mg, Organic holy basil extract (leaf) 160 mg, Organic holy basil supercritical CO₂ extract (leaf) (Ocimum tenuiflorum) (2.5% Ursolic acid and Oleanolic acid, 1.5 mg) 60 mg.

Other Ingredients: Plant based cellulose (capsule).

Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested.

The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information.

ConsumerTips™:

Dosage
Unfortunately, few studies of holy basil have provided detailed information about chemical composition of the products. In general, holy basil leaf powders (crushed and powdered leaf) have been taken in daily doses of about 2,500 mg, and extracts (as powders or liquids) in daily doses ranging from 250 mg to 1,200 mg.

Below are dosages based on available clinical trials, with details provided where possible.

For generalized anxiety — 500 mg of holy basil leaf extract taken twice daily after a meal (Bhattacharyya, Nepal Med Coll J 2008). (This size serving should provide at least 2.5 mg of triterpenes twice daily.)

For stress — 1,200 mg of holy basil extract (standardized to contain >0.1% w/w ociglycoside-I, >0.2% w/w rosmarinic acid, and >2.5% w/w triterpene acids (oleanolic acid and ursolic acid) taken as 400 mg with breakfast and 800 mg with dinner (a daily total of 1,200 mg) may improve symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and forgetfulness (Saxena, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012). (This size serving should provide 30 mg of triterpenes.)

For lowering blood sugar — 250 mg of holy basil leaf/ leaf powder taken one to two times daily (30 minutes before breakfast and/or dinner) may reduce fasting blood sugar, blood sugar levels after eating and/or HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes — although this was not a placebo-controlled study (Agrawal, Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996; Somasunaram, Int J Life Sci Pharma Res 2012). Consult your health care provider if taking insulin or other anti-diabetes drugs before using so that effects/dosage can be monitored. (This size serving should provide at least 1.25 mg to 3 mg of triterpenes.)

For immune system health — In healthy adults, 300 mg of holy basil leaf extract on an empty stomach once daily for one month may increase blood levels of some immune system proteins — although this was not a placebo-controlled study (Mondal, J Ethnopharmacol 2011). (This size serving should provide at least 1.5 mg of triterpenes.)

How to Take
For most uses, holy basil is typically taken with food, possibly to reduce the risk of nausea. When taken to reduce fasting blood sugar and/or HbA1c, it has been taken 30 minutes before a meal.

Storage
Holy basil supplements should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Concerns and Cautions:

In small, short-term clinical trials (lasting up to three months), few side effects have been reported with the use of holy basil, but occasionally, holy basil leaf may cause nausea or loose stools (Mondal, J Ethnopharmacol 2011; Jamshidi, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2017). Studies are needed to determine the long-term safety of holy basil leaf and its extract.

Preliminary studies in animals suggest that high doses of holy basil leaf extract may interfere with implantation of embryos or otherwise disrupt pregnancy (Khanna, Indian J Exp Biol 1986). To be safe, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use holy basil leaf extract.

Be aware that, in animal studies, holy basil leaf extract has been shown to decrease blood levels of thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) (Panda, Pharmacol Res 1998). It is not known if it has this effect in people.

Holy basil seed oil has been shown to have anti-platelet effects and to lower blood pressure in animals (Singh, J Ethnopharmacol 2001); however, holy basil leaf extract did not lower blood pressure in a study among healthy adults (Mondal, J Ethnopharmacol 2011).

Eugenol found in holy basil may be toxic to the liver (Thompson, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1998). However, there do not appear to be reports of liver toxicity with holy basil. Eugenol-related liver toxicity has been reported in infants and children given clove oil, which contains higher concentrations of eugenol (70 — 90%) than holy basil extract (Hartnoll, Archives of Disease in Childhood 1993, Eisen, J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2004). Interestingly, a study in animals found that holy basil leaf extract (% eugenol not provided) seemed to have a protective effect on paracetamol (Tylenol)-induced liver damage (Chattopadhy, Ind J Pharmacol 1992).

Acute allergic and skin reactions to eugenol oil when used topically or as an analgesic during dental procedures have been reported (Barkin, Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1984; Tammannavar, BMJ Case Rep 2013).