Tulsi can extend human lifespan, says Patna university research

PATNA: Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), the most sacred of all the herbs and highly revered by Hindus, has a unique property of enhancing the lifespan and also improving other health parameters related to ageing, says a recent research conducted by a team of researchers in the microbial and molecular genetics lab of Patna university (PU).
Investigations carried out for over three years confirmed that Tulsi increased the lifespan of the test animal, caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans), and considerably improved its mobility.
Principal investigator of the work, Birendra Prasad, said crude Tulsi leaf’s extract and its main constituent, ‘eugenol’, were tested on the C elegans, a free living nematode considered as a model organism worldwide due to its genes showing 70% similarity to that of the human being, in the lab. The finding with details is being sent to an international journal. The team included Nikhat Parveen and others.
The results were surprising. There was 12% increase in the life span of C elegans. The usual life span of this organism is 16 to 20 days but after treatment with Tulsi, it moved up to 23 days.
Prasad said eugenol, the main constituent of the plant separated by use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) yielded better results than the crude extract. It increased the lifespan by 25%. Interestingly, other health parameters like pharyngeal pumping, egg laying capacity and body mobility also went upward in the eugenol fed animals.
He said decrease in mobility, especially body bending, is a sign of ageing but eugenol increased it from 53 in control (without treatment) to 79 after treatment.
Tulsi is used for medicinal purposes in Ayurvedic system for ages and recommended against diseases like bronchitis, malaria, diarrhoea and arthritis. In Indian mythology, it is known as Vishnuvallabha (beloved of Vishnu) and there is a belief that its respect is always rewarding.
Prasad said though Tulsi contains various chemicals like eugenic acid, urosilic acid and rosmairinic acid, eugenol appeared as the most effective one as far as improving the health conditions is concerned.
“As C elegans is a well-recognised model animal for such investigation, the results have opened up new avenues for further research,” Prasad added.