Introduction
  Common Name
  Tulsi Plant
  Chemical Constituents
  Tulsi As Deity
  Tulsi as Medicinal Herb
  Tulsi in Ayurveda
  Tulsi Tea
  Tulsi Slows Aging
  Tulsi aromatic oil
  Tulsi helping women against poverty
  The environmental benefits of Tulsi
  Varieties of basil
  Cultivation and Care for Basil Plant
  New Research

 Introduction

  Ocimum tenuiflorum  or Tulsi plant (तुलसी) is a venerated plant and Hindus worship it in the morning and evening with a common name as Holy Basil, Surash. Tulsi is a  deity for a Hindu and a Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a tulsi plant in the courtyard. Apart from its religious significance it is of great medicinal significance, and is a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment. Tulasi  has been widely known for its health promoting and medicinal value for thousands of years. Tulsi is a principal medicinal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. Tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One”, “The Mother Medicine of Nature”, and “The Queen of Herbs”. Vagbhata, Nighantu Adarsha,  Agnipurana, Vishnupurana,  Padmapurana, Garudapurana and Tulsi Kavacham, written between 500 BC and 1200 AD, the plant Tulsi is continuously mentioned as one of the main pillars of herbal medicine. 
  Tulsi leaves can work wonders against indigestion, abnormal blood pressure, intestinal worms, gastroenteritis, cold cough, heart diseases and even some mental ailments. It can increase the pace of fresh blood formation.

Common Name

Family: -      Lamiaceae
English -      Holy Basil
Latin  -        Ocimum tenuiflorum (Ocimum sanctum L.)
Hindi -         Tulsi (तुलसी)
Sanskrit      Tulsi, Tulasi, Surasah
Parsi -         Rehan 
Marathi -     Tulas
Tamil -        Karuttulaci, Tulasi
Telugu -      Tulasi.
Chinese      九層塔

  
  In Ayurveda, describing tulsi as anabolic, hypoglycemic , smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac depressant, antifertility, adaptogenic etc.
 तुलसी कटुका तिक्ता ह्रधोष्णा दाहपितकृत।
 दीपनी कुष्ठ कृच्छास्त्र पार्श्व रूक् कफवातजित।।

   
    Stamp on Tulsi (तुलसी)

    
    Tulsi (Holy Basil) nbsp; 
   

   Tulsi Plant

    Tulsi  is found all over the country. It is an annual plant, 30-90 cm high, much branched; stem and branches usually purplish, sub- quadrangular; 2.5-5 by 1.6-3.2cm. eliiptic oblong obtuse, pubescent on both sides and minutely gland- dotted.  It is a branched, fragrant and erect herb plant. The Tulsi flowers are small, reddish-purple in color, present in small compact clusters on cylindrical spikes. The fruits are small and the seeds are reddish-yellow in color. The Tulsi plant with light green leaves is called  Rama Tulsi and the plant variety with dark red leaves is called Krishna or Shyama /Manjari Tulsi. A variety of white Tulsi is also found.

  Chemical Constituents:

  A variety of biologically active compounds have been isolated from the leaves including ursolic acid, apigenin and luteolin. Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and possess 100% larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes. Tulsi contains keenol, ascorbic acid, carotene and alkalide, rosmarinic acid , eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, β-caryophyllene (about 8%),^ β-elemene (c.11.0%), and germacrene D (about 2%). 
  The different types of basils have different scents due to their different essential oils. The strong clove scent of sweet basil is derived from eugenol. African blue basil has a strong camphor smell because it contains camphor and camphene.

   Tulsi As Deity

  From the Skanda Purana  "Just by touching Tulsidevi one's body becomes pure. As per Hindu mythology, just a leaf of tulsi was apparently enough to balance the weight of Lord Krishna. By praying to her, all diseases practically become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja  is destroyed."  A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a Tulsi plant in the courtyard.  The plant is accorded the sixth place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the consecration of the Kalasha, the container of holy water. According to one legend, Tulsi was the incarnation of a princess who fell in love with Lord Krishna, and so had a curse laid on her by his consort Radha. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Meera Bai and of Radha.
   The story of Lord Krishna has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of Satyabhama could outweigh him. But a single tulsi leaf placed by Rukmani on the pan tilted the scale. 
  In the Hindu mythology, tulsi is very dear to Lord Vishnu so tulsi is also called  ‘Vishnupriya’. The  story goes that Tulsi was the paramour of Lord Vishnu विष्णु)  . Out of Jealousy, Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी) cursed her into becoming a plant and the Lord transformed himself into the sacred Shalagrama Stone to keep her company.  Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid October. This ritual, called the 'Tulsi Vivaha' inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.

   Tulsi as Medicinal Herb

  Tulsi has been widely known for its health promoting and medicinal value for thousands of years. Commonly called sacred or holy basil, it is a principal herb of Ayurveda, the ancient traditional holistic health system of India. Tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One”, “The Mother Medicine of Nature”, and “The Queen of Herbs”.
   In Ayurvedic medicines it is used as a whole plant, the leaves, root, stem and the essential oil. Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It inhibites the growth of E coli, B.anthracis, M.tuberculosis etc. It's antitubercular activity is one-tenth the potency of streptomycin and one-fourth that of isoniazid.  Essential oil of Tulsi has been reported to possess 100%  larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes. Trials have shown excellent antimalarial activity of Tulsi. It's extracts have marked insecticide activity against mosquitoes.  Essential oil of Tulsi was found to have anti-allergic properties. When administered to laboratory animals, the compound was found to inhibit mast cell deregulation and histamine release in the presence of allergen. These studies reveal the potential role of Ocimum sanctum extracts in the management of immunological disorders including allergies and Asthma.
  

  Tulsi used in medicines as:
 Help to reduce  stress:   Extracts from the plant have been found to reduce stress. 
 Anti diabetic:  In a clinical test it is found that person suffering from Type II Diabetes was given a daily dose of 2.5 g of Tulsi leaves powder or juice of tulsi for two week periods. The results showed 17.6 % reduction in fasting blood glucose and 7.3% decline in postprandial blood glucose on treatment with Tulsi. 
 Heart ailments  and Blood pressure:  Tulsi (basil) has a positive effect over Blood Pressure and also a de-toxicant, its regular use prevents Heart Disease. A tonic may be prepared by mixing 1 gm of dry 'Tulsi' leaves with a spoonful of butter and some candy sugar or honey. Take twice a day; first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night. The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps the blood pressure normal.
In Cough:  The drinking of Tulsi-leaf tea keeps one free from cough and colds and other ailments associated with 'Kapha' dosha in the body.  Or you could chew the leaves from time to time.
In seasonal fever: Take Tulsi leaf juice with pepper thrice a day to bring down the temperature and clearing the infection.
 In bronchitis in children: The juice of the leaves is given thrice a day in catarrh and bronchitis in children.
 In night blindness':  Instill 2 drops of tulsi leaves in the eyes daily at night blindless.
 In ear infection:  When there is a pus in the ear and the ear emits a foul ordour, a few drops of tulsi extract should be installed in the ear to clear the pus and combat infection.
 In irritation or pain in the throat: Gargle with warm water in which tulsi leaves have been boiled, and drink the same, until relief is obtained. 
  In hives or urticaria: Take an infusion of tulsi leaves, neem leaves and fenugreek seeds with honey.
 In Maleria : Tulsi plant is a repellent against mosquitoes and other insects and Tulsi leaves and juice extracted from the leaves are found to be cures against Malaria a mosquito-born fever.
 In Indigestion: Tulsi is also a remedy against constipation, indigestion, poor appetite and acidity. 
 Health problems in women: Tulsi is known to help solve health problems in women that are associated with menstruation and pregnancy. Tulsi strengthens the body's immune system in children and protects them from common infections.
 In Swine Flu: Tulsi can not only keep the dreaded Swine flu or H1N1 flu  at bay but also help in fast recovery of an afflicted person, Ayurvedic practitioners claim. "The anti-flu property of Tulsi has been discovered by medical experts across the world quite recently. Tulsi improves the body's overall defence mechanism including its ability to fight viral diseases. Tulsi can control swine flu and it should be taken in fresh form. Juice or paste of at least 20-25 medium sized leaves should be consumed twice a day on an empty stomach.

   Tulsi in Ayurveda

  Ayurvedic practice recommends Tulsi in several formulations to enhance immunity and metabolic functions as well as in the management of respiratory problems. Recent pharmacological studies have established the anabolic, hypoglycemic , smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac depressant, antifertility, adaptogenic and immunomodulator properties of this plant.  Ayruvedic practioners recommend consumption of 2 grams of the freshly dried herb, usually with tea, twice daily for preventive therapy. Higher doses are used in curative therapies.
  The Carak Samhita is primarily a book on medical therapeutics in Ayurveda, describing tulsi as herbal health tonics and rejuvenators for longevity and prevention of disease, as well as daily regimens for better living, including diet which varies for different body types and different diseases. The text integrates the art and science of living. 
   Vagbhata (Godbole et al.,1966), Nighantu Adarsha ( Vaidya,1985), Agnipurana (Vedavyasa,1966), Vishnupurana (Garg, 1982), Padmapurana ( Vedvyasa, 1960), Garudapurana (Vedavyasa, 1964; Shastri, 1968) and Tulsi Kavacham (Dymock et al., 1893), written between 500 BC and 1200 AD, the plant Tulsi is continuously mentioned as one of the main pillars of herbal medicine. Early references describing Ayurvedic, Unani and folklore uses of Tulsi are noted by Dymock et al., (1893); Nadkarni, (1908-revised, 1982); Kirtikar and Basu, (1935); Varier, (1996); Sharma, (1999) and Chopra et al.,(1996)

  Tulsi Tea

  Tulsi is taken as an herbal tea. The herb has now conquered several country's  tea houses, which offer Tulsi in combination with other aromatic blends. Whether hot or cold, the tea brewed from the ingredients tastes equally good. Tulsi tea is  an excellent tea made from Tulsi, green rooibos, chamomile, and rose blossoms which gives relief for colds, fever, bronchitis, and coughs.  
  You can make tulsi tea by adding some leaves of Tulsi in the boiling water and adding honey to it. Stir the mixture for a while and your tea is ready. You can also mix it with milk and tea leaves as per your choice. To make it more tastier you can also add some ginger to it. A cup of tulsi tea in the morning is delightful and beneficial to maintain a healthy immune system to prevent cold. There are three types of tulsi that are commonly used for the preparation of tea. They are: Krishna Tulsi, Rama Tulsi and Vana Tulsi.

  Tulsi Slows Aging

  Researchers at the Poona College of Pharmacy claim that the herb tulsi (holy basil) has antioxidant properties that fights aging. The Poona study, presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, U.K., found that basil extracts protect against free radicals. Ayruvedic practioners recommend consumption of 2 grams of the freshly dried herb, usually with tea, twice daily for preventive therapy. Higher doses are used in curative therapies. Tulsi leaves have a pungent taste and are used in some Indian dishes and its extract is popular in some Ayurvedic medicines as a rejuvenation drug.

  Tulsi aromatic oil

  Tulsi Oil is extensively used as a flavouring for confectionary, baked goods, sauces, tomato pastes, pickles, fancy vinegars, spiced meats, sausages and beverages. It is also used for scenting dental and oral preparations and in certain perfume compounds, notably jasmine blends to impart strength and smoothness.. Essential oil of Tulsi have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties and possess 100% larvicidal activity against the Culex mosquitoes.  The plant’s essential oil is extracted and used for medicinal and aromatic purposes. The oil is used in traditional medicine for coughs, colds and chest congestions, mosquito-repellent, pesticide and flavouring agent.
   Oil extraction methods:  There are three most common methods- steam distillation, alcohol extraction, and supercritical extraction. During steam distillation, the plant material is permeated with steam. As the plant tissues break down, the essential oils, key compounds, and water vapor are released, then collected and cooled. The volatile essential oil condenses and separates, and the key hydrophilic components can be easily isolated. 
  Alcohol extraction is  one of the most frequently used methods for extracting botanical compounds. The plant constituents are fully dissolved, then purified through a distillation process. An alcohol is then applied to extract the key components from the other alcohol-insoluble plant constituents. A secondary distillation process removes the alcohol, leaving only the pure, concentrated key components.
  Supercritical extraction  uses carbon dioxide (CO2) under extremely high pressure to isolate key components. The process involves low temperatures, ensuring the ingredients are not affected by high heat that could alter or weaken
the beneficial compounds. Once the extraction is completed, the carbon dioxide is re-released into the atmosphere..y.

  Tulsi helping women against poverty

  An initiative for manufacturing and marketing of tulsi garlands in the remote Behtana village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan has ensured profitable monetary returns for nearly 150 women who were earlier waging a daily struggle against poverty. The Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation has launched the project for evolving a workable model for livelihood in the village which it had adopted about three years ago. The task of preparing tulsi garlands was selected in view of Behtana’s proximity to places of religious significance in  Uttar Pradesh. 
  According to an official release here, places such as Mathura, Govardhan and Vrindavan have a high demand for tulsi garlands. The Lupin Foundation invited an expert from Jait village in Mathura district to train women in fabricating the garlands. The Lupin Foundation provided loans of Rs.10,000 each to the women for purchasing new machines and arranged for bringing raw material from Jait. Women slowly acquired proficiency in the job and each of them is now stated to be earning Rs.4,000 to Rs.5,000 a month by manufacturing 40 tulsi garlands everyday. A number of traders were approaching the women’s group in Behtana and placing orders for bulk supply.
    In Keniya: In several community based tulsi farms in Kenya, village women remove the leaves from harvested branches. The leaves are first sorted according to size, weighed and the farmer paid accordingly. The leaf then takes four days to dry, spread out on trays much like in a tea factory, but without electric blowers for drying. The leaves are then packed into 30-kg sacks. The distillation room can handle 10 kgs of leaf per process, extracting 200-300 gms of essential oil from the leaf. The entire process, from steaming to decanting takes three hours. This is an  ideal economic initiative that is  alsovenvironmental and suitable to poor women of every country.
 In India:  Around 300 women across Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh are successfully engaged in organic tulsi farming for the last 10 years. After a decade, they have not only managed to become successful farmers by profitably growing organic tulsi for Organic India, a Lucknow- based multinational company, but have also secured the promised medical facilities and even managed to send their children to school.

 Holy basil combat stress 
 
 Holy basil functions as an adaptogen, enhancing the body's natural response to physical and emotional stress. Adaptogenic herbs do not alter mood, but rather, they help the body function optimally during times of stress.
 Multiple scientific studies examining this property of Ocimum sanctum have found that supplementation with various extracts of holy basil decrease stress hormone levels, corticosterone in particular.Lower levels of corticosterone are associated with improved mental
clarity and memory, and long-term, can reduce the risk of age-related mental disorders. 
  Research has also shown that the triterpenoic acids isolated from holy basil effectively improve the body's response to stress.

  Tulsi Tea

   
  Taking a holy basil herbal supplement or drinking Tulsi tea can help stabilize the brain’s serotonin and dopamine levels to calm and relax you without making you feel drowsy. Holy Basil also helps to balance blood sugar and cholesterol as well as providing a rich source of antioxidants and anti- inflammatory compounds. 

   
Parampara presents a drive for tulsi
  Over the last eight years, Parampara has been busy distributing lakhs of free tulsi saplings, setting up tulsi groves or ‘vans' in schools, apartment complexes and commercial centres, besides promoting the concept of gifting tulsi saplings at weddings and official gatherings.
  The tulsi van is a nice place to breath in fresh aromatic air at, relax, meditate or just contemplate in an outdoor setting, without having to move your limbs and to keep off mosquitoes. Tulsi is perhaps the easiest of all plants to grow; and being a short, small plant, it doesn't demand much space. 
  While there are many varieties, the Krishna tulsi (Ocimum gratissimum ), a shrub-like, long-living variety, has maximum medicinal value.

 Treating inflammatory diseases and arthritis
  
  Basil contain large amounts of (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP), which might have a use in treating inflammatory bowel diseases and Arthritis  BCP is the only product identified in nature that activates CB2 selectively; it interacts with one of two
cannabinoid receptors (CB2), blocking chemical signals that lead to inflammation, without triggering cannabis mood-altering effects.

  The environmental benefits of Tulsi

  Dada Dham, a socio-spiritual organization brought together a team of botanists, ayurvedic scholars and environmental enthusiasts to study the environmental benefits of tulsi. "Tulsi gives out oxygen for 20 hours and ozone for four hours a day along with the formation of nascent oxygen which absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the environment," said Shyamkant Padoley, an eminent botanist. Padoley, member of technical committee, ministry of environment and forest, NewDelhi, and forest tech committee, also read a paper at the International Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases at Kyoto in 1997 where cyclo oxygenate, an enzyme only found in tulsi was labelled for the first time. This enzyme regulates the entire mechanism of oxygen evolution.
   Dr Dattatraya Saraf, an ayurvedic doctor and expert said, "The plant enriches the environment with oxygen almost 24X7 and also absorbs other pollutants." He further added that if the size of the plant can be increased, the environmental benefits can be increased. "That is why we want to urge scientists and concerned authorities tomake research on the issue of increasing the height of tulsi plant. If big trees can be converted to bonsai plants then big tulsi trees can be possible too," said Kishor Verma, PRO of Dada Dham. He also citied the research and work by other organization in support of tulsi's environmental benefits.
  "The forest department of Uttar Pradesh, with the help of an organization called Organic India Limited, Lucknow planted lakhs of tulsi saplings around Taj Mahal to protect its surface from industrial emissions. This step has yielded positive results," Verma said. Tulsi (Occinum sanctum) chosen for its anti-pollutant anti-oxidation and air-purifying properties making it an ideal ornamental shrub in the vicinity of the Taj Mahal. Now Tulsi is being used to help Taj Mahal to retain its pristine allure. Even as the monument of love yellowing with age awaits its promised beauty pack for well over two years, forest department has come up with another quick-fix project -- plant a Tulsi drive in Agra.

  Varieties of basil

  There are many Varieties of basil as:
  Sweet basil - used in Italian food 
  Lemon basil -Lemon basil has a strong lemony smell and flavour, contains a chemical called citral 
  Holy basil -  tulsi , a revered home-grown plant in India and Nepal 
  African Blue -  African blue basil has a strong camphor smell because it has camphor and camphene
  Camphor basil,  African basil
  Hoary basil (Ocimum americanum)
  Holy -Thai basil  
  Pinyin - Chinese basil
  Lettuce leaf basil`(Ocimum basilicum 'Crispum')
``Purple basil (Ocimum basilicum)
``Queen of Siam basil (Ocimum basilicum citriodorum)
  Rubin basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Rubin')

  Cultivation and Care for Basil Plant

  Basil plant Cultivation and Care  whether grown indoors in pots or as an outdoor garden plant, involves the same attention and maintenance. Following are a few basic things that a basil plant would need in order to thrive.
*Plant : While getting a basil plant from the nursery, make sure you get one that is standing straight and has a few slender branches that have sprouted from all sides. The leaves should be green and bright. Make sure the plant is not diseased or the leaves are not yellow or brown.
*Soil: Basil plants thrive in a light soil. So while getting a pot or a place ready to plant them, ensure that the soil is part sandy, well composted and well drained. Too much compost will damage the plant and lead to root rotting. As it is a tropical plant, it needs to be protected from cold winds and frost. They do well in both full as well as partial sun. Basil plants can tolerate soil pH in a range that is between 6 to 8 on the soil acidity - alkalinity scale.
*Water: Basil does not like excess watering. Too much water causes its stems to rot and leaves to wilt away. In warmer climates, a daily sprinkling can be done and the plant can be given a wash in the evenings. This will cool off the warmth around the plant. In colder climates, water the plant as per requirement only. Heavily mulch around, so that adequate moisture will get retained which is beneficial for plant growth.  
*Fertilizer: Basil needs minimal fertilizing, too much will burn the plant out. Never fertilize in extremely hot or cold seasons and when the plant is in its dormant stage. Too much of artificial and fast realizing fertilizer will hasten plant growth, which in the long run will damage the plant. Use organic fertilizer or liquid fertilizer. 
*Pests: Basil gets inflicted with pest primarily for two reasons: too much water and not enough enough sunlight. Too much dampness in the soil results in fungal diseases such as "pythium wilt"  and "fusarium wilt" When one notices such infliction in the plants, immediately control watering, air out the plant and cut out the diseased stems and leaves. One can dust anti fungal powder or spray the plant with a pesticide solution. Other basil plant pests include aphids, mealybugs and spider mites. They can all be cleared out by using appropriate anti fungal or anti bacterial solutions .

  New Research

  Scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have developed a tulsi-based herbal medicine for treating people exposed to radiations. The medicine is already in the second phase of trials. According to scientists, tulsi has anti-oxidant properties and can repair cells damaged by exposure to radiation.
  "Tulsi-based medicine is already in second phase of clinical trials. It has to undergo some more trials before it is finalised and goes for commercial production. Animal trials have also been conducted and their results were quite encouraging," DRDO`s Chief Controller (Research and Development) W. Selvamurthy told IANS. Selvamurthy was speaking at the 99th edition of the Indian Science Congress held in Bhubaneshwar in January 7, 2011.
   Experiments in animals found extracts of holy basil to be protective against radiation-induced DNA damage, probably by antioxidant mechanisms. Protective effects were demonstrated against induced gastric cancer with concomitant introgastric administration of holy basil extract and against induced skin-tumorigenesis with application of the extract.
   Researchers are now finding that Tulsi is a rich source of antioxidants that helps prevent the negative effects of oxidative stress in the body. One of its components, carnosol, has shown promising results in liver, stomach and prostate cancer as well as leukaemia; it is believed to reduce the size of the blood vessels that supply the tumour and this slows down its growth.

  References

  1 Bhargava KP, Singh N. Anti-stress activity of Ocimum sanctum Linn. Indian J Med Res. 1981 March
  2 Prakash J, Gupta SK. Chemopreventive activity of Ocimum sanctum seed oil.
  3 J. Janick (ed.), James E. Simon, Mario R. Morales, Winthrop B. Phippen, Roberto Fontes Vieira, and Zhigang Hao,    
     "Basil: A Source of Aroma Compounds and a Popular Culinary and Ornamental Herb"
  4. Duke, James A.. "Basil as the Holy Hindu Highness"
  5. Dube, S.. "Antifungal, physicochemical, and insect-repelling activity of the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum 
  6. Hakkim FL, Shankar CG, Girija S.Chemical composition and antioxidant property of holy basil ( Ocimum sanctum L.) leaves, stems, and inflorescence and their in vitro callus cultures. J Agric Food Chem 
  7. Gupta P, Yadav DK, Siripurapu KB, Palit G, Maurya R. Constituents of Ocimum sanctum with antistress activity
  8. Singh S, Majumdar DK. Evaluation of the gastric antiulcer activity of fixed oil of Ocimum sanctum (Holy Basil)
  9. Warrier, P K (1995). Indian Medicinal Plants, .Orient Longman.
 10  Prakash, P.; Gupta, N. (April 2005). "Therapeutic uses of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulasi) with a note on eugenol and its pharmacological actions: A short review"

 Beauty Ingredients using holy basil
 The beauty industry in Thailand has grown 44% since 2008 to reach an estimated US $ 3.6 billion, according to a report by Mintel. The traditional Asian holy basil is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in Western beauty products. While India remains the number one country for beauty and personal care products containing holy basil (accounting for 38% of NPD globally in 2011), the UK has one of the
highest demands for this ingredient. Globally, in 2011 the UK sat in third place accounting for 14% of global new product development containing holy basil. Also in Europe, France is one of the biggest marketplaces for new products with holy basil in the beauty and personal care sector. While its usage was limited back in 2008 (3%), today, France accounts for some 5% of global NPD using the ingredient. In terms of products where holy basil are found—within the global market a third (33%) of products containing holy basil are for face and neck care, but it is also a popular ingredient in body care and soap bars, with a 14% share respectively. Meanwhile, as many as 9% of new products with the ingredient are found in the hair treatment sector. 

  Worship the holy Basil tree in Puri
  
  Lakhs of devotees thronged Puri, the pilgrim city here to observe a month- long Kartik Brata which began from Monday. The devotees mostly old and widows took bath early in the morning and visited the Jagannath temple to witness Mangala Arati. Every year, the devotees congregate here for observing the rituals in large number. 
 They chant lines from Kartik Mahatmya and take one vegetarian meal a day.Most of them take Mahaprasad from the temple kitchen and worship the holy Basil tree.
 As usual, the temple administration has rescheduled the daily rituals of the deities to facilitate devotees to have darshan and say their prayers. Huge quantities of Mahaprasad are being cooked daily keeping in view its rising demand these days.
 The last five days of the month would draw more devotees for Panchuka.The days are considered the holiest of the month. The deities in the temple would take five new Veshas, one each day. The Brata would conclude on the Kartik Purnima.

Tulasi Arati
Vrindaai Tulasi devyai priyasai kesavasya cha
Vishn u bhaktiprade devi satyavatyai namo namaha