N. 0. LABIAT/E. 1013 



Vern. : — Ram-tulsi (Hind, and Dec); Ram-tulshi (Beng.) ; 

 Furanjmishk (Arab.); Palangmishk (Pers.) ; Elumich-cham- 

 tolashi (Tarn.) ; Nimmatulasi (Tel.) ; Kattu-tuttuva 'Mai.) ; Ban- 

 jere (Pb.) ; Ramatulas (Mar.) ; Avachiba-vachi (Guz.) 



Habitat : - Bengal, Chittagong, E. Nepal and throughout 

 the Deccan Peninsula. 



A strongly-scented, perennial shrub, l-8ft. glabrescent, much- 

 branched, woody below. Leaves 2-4in. ovate acute crenate 

 or coarsely toothed. Petiole l-2in. Racemes strict, slender; 

 whorl rather close set ; bracts sessile, lanceolate, awned from a 

 rounded base, longer than the Calyx. Calyx pubescent, fruit- 

 ing Jin. long, recurved ; two lower Calyx-teeth minute, much 

 shorter than the rounded upper, lateral triangular, broader than 

 the lower. Corolla Jin., hardly exceeding the Calyx, pale yel- 

 low. Filaments exserted, knee bearded. Nutlets sab-globose, 

 rugose, with glandular depressions (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses : — It is an esteemed remedy in gonorrhoea. Dr. Waitz 

 {Dis. of Children in Hot Climate, p. 196) states that in the 

 aphthae of children he found a strong decoction of the plant 

 effectual when ordinary European remedies had failed. He also 

 advises {Ibid., p. 230) the use of aromatic baths of fumigations 

 prepared with this plant in the treatment of rheumatism and 

 paralysis (Bouton, Med. Plants of Mauritius p. 120). Ph. Ind. 



A decoction of the leaves is of value in cases of seminal 

 weakness (S. Arjun). The seeds are given in headaches and 

 neuralgia. 



The sample of oil of Ocimum gratissimum L. prepared at Dabakala is very 

 limpid and golden yellow in colour. Tts odour is perfectly similar to that of 

 the oil of ajowan seeds. 

 Its coustants are : 



Density at 15° C ... ... ... 0.9105 



Polarmetric rotation ... ... 4-0*58' 



Soluble in li vol. of 80 per cent alcohol, later an opalescence. 



Judging from its odour, this essential oil should contain a large proportion 

 of thymol or carvacrol. 



Agitation with a 5 per cent aqueous solution of caustic soda showed that 

 it contains, as a matter of fact, 44 per cent of phenolic constituents. The 

 alkaline solution is decomposed by dilute sulphuric acid, then exhausted 

 with ether. By rapid evaporation in a small porcelain capsule, this solvent 



