Musk-basil
StarBasilicum polystachyon
Synonyms: Ocimum tashiroi, Plectranthus micranthus, Moschosma moschatum, Moschosma dimidiatum, Plectranthus moschatus, Lehmannia ocymoidea, Ocimum dimidiatum, Ocimum moschatum, Moschosma polystachyon, Basilicum polystachyon var. stereocladum, Ocimum polystachyon, Lumnitzera moschata, Lumnitzera polystachyon, Perxo polystachyon
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Musk basil is used as a folk medicine across tropical Africa and Asia. In Cameroon the leaves are used against infectious diseases and gastroenteritis, and elsewhere in West Africa a leaf decoction is reported for epilepsy, heart palpitations and neuralgia, while the plant juice is applied for headache; the crushed leaves are also used as a sedative and the fresh roots chewed against cough, and roots cooked with food to relieve flatulence (Burkill, 1995; Madhavan et al., 2009). Species-specific pharmacological studies document antimicrobial, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity of the leaf, supporting some of these traditional applications.
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Botanical Description
Basilicum polystachyon (musk basil) is an aromatic annual or short-lived perennial herb of the Lamiaceae, formerly placed in Moschosma. It has erect to spreading, square, branching stems reaching up to about a metre, bearing opposite, ovate, toothed and softly hairy leaves that are strongly musk-scented when bruised. The small, two-lipped, white to pale purple flowers are crowded in slender, elongated, many-flowered terminal and axillary racemes, followed by tiny nutlets. The species is pantropical in distribution, occurring through tropical and southern Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, tropical and subtropical Asia, and into northern Australia, where it grows as a weed of damp ground, ditches, ricefield margins and disturbed places.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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