holy basil

Studies have not established the effect of holy basil on breast cancer

Holy basil contains numerous volatile compounds and other substances that have powerful antioxidant, radiation protective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Holy basil may help alleviate type 2 diabetes by improving insulin activity in the body.

Breast cancer-related effects of eating holy basil

Holy basil has been shown to inhibit breast cancer (including DCIS) growth and progression by affecting cell proliferation and angiogenesis in a mouse experimental model.

Additional comments

While they are closely related, basil (Ocimum basilicum), otherwise known as sweet basil, is not exactly the same plant as holy basil (Ocimum sanctum). Fresh or dried basil typically is used as a food ingredient, whereas holy basil normally is consumed as a herb in the U.S.

Note that while we are continually searching for new evidence specifically concerning this food, there is not much interest in it among breast cancer researchers, so few studies are available.

Tags: DCIS, angiogenesis, antifungal, basil, holyBasil, inflammation, insulinResistance, proliferation, radioprotective, type2Diabetes

Selected breast cancer studies
+ Show study summaries

Anti-cancer effects of novel flavonoid vicenin-2 as a single agent and in synergistic combination with docetaxel in prostate cancer Ocimum sanctum Linn. leaf extracts inhibit acetylcholinesterase and improve cognition in rats with experimentally induced dementia Inhibition of breast cancer progression by ocium gratissimum: a natural inhibitor or galectin-3 cleavage by MMP-2 Induction of apoptotic cell death by ursolic acid through mitochondrial death pathway and extrinsic death receptor pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells Role of Ocimum sanctum as a Genoprotective Agent on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Genotoxicity Immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum in rat Ocimum gratissimum: a novel natural inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteases Anti-genotoxic effect of Ocimum sanctum L. extract against cyproterone acetate induced genotoxic damage in cultured mammalian cells Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Property of Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) Leaves, Stems, and Inflorescence and Their in Vitro Callus Cultures Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Holy Basil) ethanolic leaf extract protects against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and imbalance in xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes Inhibition of breast cancer progression by a medicinal herb Ocimum sanctum Inhibition of angiogenesis by a common herb: Ocimum sactum



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