How Holy Basil Fights Worms: A Closer Look

Lymphatic filariasis is a big problem, affecting millions of people worldwide. Current medicines like DEC, albendazole, and ivermectin aren't great at killing adult worms. So, scientists are looking for new ways to fight this disease. This study checks out how holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, affects worms called Setaria cervi. They found that an ethanol mix from the plant (EOS) can hurt or even kill these worms. It causes stress in the worms by messing with their energy and stress systems. The study also found that some chemicals in EOS, like ursolic acid, rutin, and rosmarinic acid, stick well to the worms' important proteins. This shows that holy basil could be a good new tool in the fight against worms that cause lymphatic filariasis.Most people don't know that common plants like holy basil can have powerful effects on harmful worms.