Health Benefits And Side Effect Of Scent Leave (Ocimum Gratissimum)

Scent leaf has immeasurable benefit. The plant is normally a perennial homegrown shrub, although it can be found in the wild, and is used mainly as a spice for cooking delicacies due to its aromatic taste. It is popularly known as Nchanwu or Effirin. Its botanical name is Ocimum Gratissimum. It is native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and the Bismarck Archipelago, and naturalized in Polynesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, West Indies, Brazil, and Bolivia.

Scent leave

Names Of Scent Leave Around The World

It also has many different names in various local dialects. Ocimum gratissimum, also known as clove basil, African basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil.

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Local names:

Ebe-amwonkho in Edo

Chayo in Fon

Dogosui in Ewe

Efirin in Yoruba

Tamwṍtswã́gi in Nupe

Añyeba in Igala

Daidoya in Hausa

Nchuanwu also Arimu in Igbo

Ntong in Ibibio, Efik

Kunduri in Okrika

Nunum in Akan

Nunu Bush in Jamaica (from the Akan language)

Yerba di holé in Papiamento

Fobazen in Haiti

Scent leaves in Nigeria and in the African diaspora

Mujaaja in Uganda

Maduruthala in Sri Lanka මදුරුතලා

Kattuthulasi(കാട്ടുതുളസി), Kattu Thrithala (കാട്ടു തൃത്താവ്) in Kerala

Bai yeera in Thai ใบยี่หร่า

Rehani in Georgian რეჰანი

Ram Tulsi in Gujarati

Tomka leaf (তোমকা/তোমহা পাতা) in chittagonian Bangla

Aeromanager in Baoulé

Nutritional Value Of Scent Leave

The leaves of Ocimum gratissimum are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils. 

Some of the vital nutrients it contains include:

1. Dietary fiber

2. Protein

3. Water

4. Vitamin A 

5. Vitamin B

6. Calcium

7. Vitamin K

8. Potassium 

9. Magnesium

10. Iron

11. Zinc

12. Phosphorus

The essential oil found in scent leaves is rich in eugenol, thymol, camphor, pinene, limonene, etc. The plant is also rich in phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and tannins that have strong antioxidant activity.

Health Benefits Of Scent Leave

The oil from scent leave is scientifically proved to possess antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal activities.

1. Scent leaf aids digestion, it helps bowel evacuation and weight management. It is also useful in the management of diarrhea.

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2. It can be used to treat oral infection and bad breath. The stick can be chewed and extracted and used as a mouth gargle.

3. It is used in treating fever, cold and catarrh. The extract is heated and the steam inhaled or extract squeezed from the leaves and put into the nose.

4. Scent leave seed helps in treatment of urinary infection. It is used in the form of vaginal douches for vaginitis. Studies have shown scent leaves to have antifungal activity against Penicillium chrysogenum (also known as Penicillium notatum), Candida albicans, and Microsporeum gyseum.

5. It is a useful medication for people living with HIV and AIDS.

6. It prevents cancer and reduces cholesterol due to the presence of magnesium and calcium.

7. It lowers blood sugar level and protects the pancreas cell that produces insulin in diabetes mellitus. This may be because the leaf contains cinnamic acid, which has been found to enhance circulation and stabilize blood sugar.

8. This soup can serve as an appetite stimulant.

9. Water extract or juice of basil has antispasmodic effect and is utilized in the treatment and management of convulsion and seizures.

10. When left to dry and burnt, scent leaves could serve as a mosquito repellent. This Is because they contain compounds like camphor, cineole, and limonene which are larvicidal and so are harmful to mosquitoes or insects.

11. Because it is rich in vitamin A, it is good for the eyes. Excess intake of vitamin A and by extension, the scent leaves, by pregnant women can lead to birth defects and is not recommended. Also, Information regarding safety and efficacy in lactation is lacking.

12. Anti-inflammatory properties of scent leave are high with lower side effects. Also, it helps to treat arthritis.

13. It is used in treating skin diseases and ringworm. It is also used for wound healing especially in children's navel.

14. Contains compounds that aids female and male fertility.

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15. The ethanol extract is a good source of preservatives.

16. A 2004 study found that the essential oil of scent leaves may help to enhance normal hair growth and promote new regrowth in induced hair loss in rats.

17. Scent leaves are rich in antioxidants that may help keep your liver healthy. One Nigerian study discovered that high doses of scent leaf extract showed hepatoprotective potentials on the liver.

18. It relieves heartburn and it reduces nicotine for smokers.

Side Effects Of Scent Leave

If you suffer any allergic reactions to plants in the basil or mint family, please avoid scent leaves. Scent leaf is rich in vitamin K which plays a role in blood clotting. Foods or supplements containing high levels of vitamin K can affect the action of blood thinners like warfarin.