Lemon basil (Ocimum xcitriodorum)

Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Lemon basil is a small herb whose leaves are commonly eaten as a vegetable. Leaves distinctive aroma, powerful yet gentle aroma with a touch of lime. For vegetables, lemon basil leaves are usually eaten together the cabbage leaves, sliced cucumber, and chili sauce to complement the fried chicken or fish.

Lemon basil is a hybrid between two species of mint, Ocimum basilicum and O. americanum. He is also known as O. basilicum var. anisatum Benth. The smell coming from his trademark high sitral content in the leaves and flowers.

This herb can grow to the height 60-70cm; smooth stems with leaves on each link; leaves light green, oval shape. 3-4cm long, smooth hair on the surface of the bottom; white flowers, less attractive, arranged in bunches, if left to flower, then the growth of leaves and plants tend to be less rapid aging and death.

This herb contains active substances that have arginine cineol and reinforce the benefits of sperm survival, prevent sterility, and lower blood sugar. Sperm survival is important to support the process of egg fertilization. In addition, this plant is efficacious to overcome premature ejaculation, dilate capillaries. The content of apigenin fenkhona and eugenol in lemon basil can also facilitate an erection.

For women, lemon basil is very useful. All parts of this plant are rich in anetol and boron compounds that can stimulate the hormone androgen and estrogen as well as prevent bone loss. Both these hormones are a big role in female reproductive system. Eugenol compounds that had also able to kill the fungi that cause vaginal discharge. In addition, stigma asterol substances in lemon basil to stimulate egg maturation. Tannin and zinc reduce the secretion of vaginal fluids. There is another substance that could delay menopause tryptophan.

This plant also contain volatile oil, ascorbic acid, acid kafeat, iskulin, histidine, magnesium, beta-carotene, and betasitosterol. All of these nutritious compounds useful to maintain a healthy body.

As part of the mint family, lemon basil can contain estragol, compounds known to trigger cancer in mice. Although testing the effect on humans has not been done, the use of excessive should be avoided.

Scientific classification lemon basil plant
Kingdom           : Plantae
Division             : Magnoliophyta
Class                  : Magnoliopsida
Order                 : Lamiales
Family                : Lamiaceae
Genus                : Ocimum
Species              : O. xcitriodorum