Hyptis suaveolens Health Dictionary

(Linn.) Poit.

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical America. Distributed throughout India.

Ayurvedic: Tumbaaka (provisional synonym).

Folk: Gangaa Tulasi, Vilaayati Tulasi, Bhunsari.

Action: Carminative, antispasmodic, antisoporific, antirheumatic, anticephalalgic, lactagogue. Used in catarrhal and uterine affections, parasitical cutaneous diseases, epistaxis.

The plant gave lupeol, lupeol acetate and friedelin, leaves and flowers gave campesterol and fucosterol; roots contained beta-sitosterol, oleanolic and alpha-peltoboykinolic acids.

The plant gave an essential oil containing l-sabinene. l-limonene and azulenic sesquiterpenes as major constituents. The oil inhibits the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly, Staphylococcus aureus; also exhibits fungitoxicity.

Alcoholic extract (50%) of the whole plant exhibited hypoglycaemic and anticancer activity.