Holy Basil · Ocimum tenuiflorum
An adaptogenic herb flagged by EU regulators for potential CMR properties in supplements.
Short answer
Not a longevity ingredient. EU regulators have prioritized it for restriction in supplements.
Product and dose overview
Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a botanical with evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. We track 0 products containing Holy Basil. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per month.
What it is
Holy basil (tulsi) is an adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress and immune support.
Why people take it
Some human trials show stress reduction benefits. EU regulators flagged it for possible carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic properties at supplement doses.
Our verdict
Not a longevity ingredient. EU regulators have prioritized it for restriction in supplements.
Structure & class
Ocimum tenuiflorum. Contains eugenol, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid.
Mechanism & clinical data
Small human trials suggest anxiolytic effects. CMR concerns raised by HoA working group based on hazard identification.
Pharmacokinetics
Not well characterized.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Limited safety data at high supplemental doses.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regulatory status
Timeline
Regulatory events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Holy Basil, most recent first. Studies link to the paper; regulatory entries name and link the responsible authority.
-
EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in April 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
-
EU heads of food safety agencies prioritize holy basil for restrictionThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements identified Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil) among 12 substances prioritized for Article 8 restriction. Flagged for possible carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic properties at supplement doses.
-
EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
-
HoA 2024 (BVL/NVWA, EU)26-country EU working group prioritized holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) for Article 8 restriction. Flagged for possible carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic properties.
-
EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
-
EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
-
HoA 2024 (BVL/NVWA, EU)
26-country EU working group prioritized holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) for Article 8 restriction. Flagged for possible carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic properties.
Read study →
Found in these products
All products in our catalog that contain Holy Basil, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No products in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
See all in Botanical →Molecules in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Holy Basil in our catalogue.
See Holy Basil in context: the mechanism it acts through, the biomarker it moves, the products that dose it, and the trials that tested it.
View Holy Basil on the Longevity Map →Frequently asked questions
What is Holy Basil?
Holy basil (tulsi) is an adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress and immune support.
What dose of Holy Basil should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 0 mg per day, with a range of 0 to 0 mg per day. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Holy Basil safe?
Limited safety data at high supplemental doses.
What is the best Holy Basil supplement?
We track 0 products containing Holy Basil. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Holy Basil?
Holy Basil has evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Evidence grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new products are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.