Basil instinct

Several varieties of basil — with their fresh-tasting, aromatic leaves — have been shown to be as strong as anti-inflammatory medication when it comes to easing the swelling and pain of arthritis.

Effective remedy

The research, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, found that, when taken orally, concentrated extracts from two types of basil — Ocimum americanum and Ocimum tenuiflorum — reduced joint swelling by up to 73 per cent in just 24 hours.

"We assessed the anti-inflammatory capacity of both plants and found they were similar to those seen in diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug widely used in the treatment of arthritis," says Vaibhav Shinde, of Poona College of Pharmacy, in India, who conducted the research.

But unlike diclofenac and other drugs of its type, basil has not so far been found to cause side-effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and abdominal burning and pain.

These can be significant problems for arthritis sufferers who take daily pain-relieving medication.

Traditional medicine

Various varieties of basil have been used in traditional medicine in India and Europe for centuries. Taken as a herbal infusion (by pouring water that has just been boiled over the fresh leaves) or added fresh to curries or salads, the plant has been used to treat anti-inflammatory conditions ranging from bronchitis and asthma to skin disease and arthritis.

Basil may also help prevent diabetes by reducing blood-glucose levels.

Yet, scientists are only now beginning to discover what makes basil such an effective remedy.

Healing touch

"Research indicates that eugenol, the oil that gives basil its distinctive aroma, is the active molecule responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect," Shinde says.

"However, other molecules may also be involved. We are trying to find out what they are so that they can be used to develop medicines."

A pill made from basil extract is not yet available but increasing the amount of basil in your diet should have a mild anti-inflammatory effect — although it will depend on the type of basil you use.

The basils in the research are grown mainly in India and South East Asia, where they are used in Ayurvedic medicine and to add flavour to curries.

The leaves are smaller than the European variety — Ocimum basilicum, or sweet basil — and the flavour is stronger, which is due to the higher levels of eugenol.

"Sweet basil contains eugenol but not in the same amounts," says Susi Kaiser, medical herbalist at the University of Westminster.

"It is likely to have some anti-inflammatory action but look for the Asian varieties if you want a stronger effect."