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Holy Basil Extract Review – 8 Things You Should Know

By Sasha de Beausset Aparicio, MSc

Reviewed by Rebecca Williams, MD, MA, MB, BChir

Last Updated:

Evidence Based | Summary | What's Inside? | Health Benefits | Cautions | Cost | How To Use | Conclusion

Holy Basil Extract is a one ingredient supplement which uses the nootropic non-culinary basil. It’s manufactured by New York company Futurebiotics, which has been in business for three decades. According to their website: “Futurebiotics has been dedicated to designing and manufacturing products based on the latest science and research for good health and recognizes the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle through a comprehensive regimen of diet, exercise and nutritional supplementation.” It’s not clear who would benefit most from this product, but some people use Holy Basil to reduce stress. It’s often viewed as a general nootropic for overall health.

Summary

1) What is Holy Basil Extract?

Each capsule contains 500 mg of Holy Basil Extract with 2.5 percent ursolic acid. Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) has been used in traditional Southeast Asian medicines for hundreds of years. Modern research, unfortunately, has not conclusively deduced if it has benefits. It may reduce stress, help protect the liver, boost the immune system, and have antioxidant properties. It may also impact testosterone amounts and reduce fertility. 500 mg twice daily is thought to be the ideal dose for people, with some needing more. Servings are often calculated by weight and need, so some people will need massive amounts (as high as 3,000 to 9,000 mg). Lower amounts are most common.

What’s Inside?

2) What’s Inside Holy Basil Extract?

Holy Basil Extract contains the following ingredients: Holy Basil leaf extract (Ocimum basilicum) (standardized for 2.5% ursolic acid) (500 mg).

3) Does Holy Basil Extract Work and it is Safe?

This is a simple one ingredient supplement with 500 mg of Holy Basil Extract per capsule. This includes ursolic acid, standardized to 2.5 percent. Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi or Ocimum tenuiflorum, is not the basil commonly used in foods as a spice. It’s a shrub native to Southeast Asia whose leaves are used in medicines, essential oils, and herbal teas. The plant is revered in some areas as an elixir of life. For Hindus, it’s a sacred plant, with its leaves an essential part of worship for certain male Vaishnava deities. Its medicinal uses vary by region and Holy Basil is considered an adaptogen. It’s believed to reduce stress and improve longevity. Scientific and clinical research on the plant hasn’t turned up many significant results to back up these claims. Holy Basil may increase the power of your immune system by a slight amount. It might also help with anxiety, blood glucose, and depressive symptoms. The research on this ingredient’s benefits are a bit too scarce to say anything for sure. There are few decent human trials which demonstrate the efficiency of Holy Basil. Its popularity in traditional medicines (Ayurveda) does indicate it has some usefulness.

Health Benefits

4) Holy Basil Extract Health Benefits

  • Easy-to-swallow vegetarian capsules without artificial colors.
  • Only one active ingredient, with standardized amounts, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Cautions

5) What You Need to Know Before Taking Holy Basil Extract

  • Not a lot of clinical evidence that Holy Basil is notably useful in treating problems.
  • Might be more effective as part of a nootropic stack, with a few other ingredients.

Cost

6) Holy Basil Extract Cost

Each bottle lasts for about a month, if you follow the label’s recommendation of two capsules daily. The price is average or below average depending on if there’s a sale. All items appear eligible for returns as long as you contact Futurebiotics customer service within one year of purchase. After you call or email them, you return the unused portion for credit, an exchange, or a refund. Shipping costs are not refunded. The company does ship internationally, although they don’t provide a list of locations. They also have free shipping on all US orders of $50 or more.

How To Use

7) How to Use Holy Basil Extract

Ursolic acid is a substance (phytochemical) found in apple peels, Holy Basil, and various plants. There aren’t any decent human trials which have discovered any benefit to this substance, but it could be useful. It’s potentially a good way to help increase muscle mass and decrease your body’s fat content. It may reduce fertility, so caution is advised when taking supplements with ursolic acid. High amounts are generally recommended, if your doctor thinks you should take it. 150 mg with each meal is considered ideal until further research is done (with a minimum of 100 mg daily). With this particular supplement, you’re not likely to get that. An estimated 12 mg ursolic acid is in each capsule, which isn’t much, and you may not get results from such small amounts.

Conclusion

8) Conclusion

This is a low priced supplement with suitable serving sizes. The company behind it is reliable and appears to generally have high quality and purity of its products. If you’re interested in the idea of taking Holy Basil Extract, it’s safe and inexpensive. It wouldn’t hurt to try it out. The Ursolic acid content is somewhat pointless, as there isn’t enough to have a noticeable impact. Holy Basil itself may provide long term benefits, but it isn’t completely clear. It could be a good addition to your routines, combined with multivitamins or Omega-3 supplements, for maximum long term benefit.

3/5 - (2 votes)
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