Madelyn Mehr and Teresa DeGolier

For centuries, herbal agents have been used in the practice of midwifery to holistically induce labor and reduce the stress of post-term labor. This research specifically evaluated purple holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), a species of basil found primarily in tea and prepared with other varieties of basil collectively referred to as Tulsi. Several concentrations of this herb were prepared as aqueous extracts and applied to isolated mouse uterine smooth muscle tissues and tested in an organ bath. Following analysis, it was found that the contractile forces produced by the herb were significantly greater when compared to the tissues own spontaneous motility (p<0.0001). Higher concentrations of O. tenuiflorum (0.274-1.121 mg/mL) were equal to or greater than contractile forces produced by the positive control, oxytocin (10^-5 M). These results support that purple holy basil does have a contractile effect on isolated strips of uterine smooth muscle.

DOI: 10.22271/phyto.2022.v11.i4d.14472

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