Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) as a Potential Anti-Cancer Drug: A Comprehensive Review

Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma

Abstract: Cancer remains a major global health challenge due to increasing therapeutic resistance, toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, and limited efficacy in advanced stages. Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), an important Rasayana herb of Ayurveda, contains a rich spectrum of bioactive compounds such as eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin, all of which demonstrate significant anti-cancer potential. This review synthesizes classical Ayurvedic knowledge with contemporary scientific evidence to evaluate Tulsi?s molecular mechanisms in cancer prevention and therapy. A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, AYUSH Research Portal, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Evidence reveals that Tulsi exerts multi-targeted actions including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis, antioxidant effects, and immunomodulation. These findings support Tulsi as a viable adjunct in integrative oncology. However, robust clinical trials and standardization of formulations remain essential.

Keywords: Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum, Anti-cancer activity, Apoptosis, Metastasis inhibition, Angiogenesis inhibition, Immunomodulation, Antioxidants, Ayurveda, Phytochemicals, Rasayana