Indian scientists decode tulsi plant for first time!

Bengaluru: For the first time ever, a team of scientists from India have mapped the entire genome of the humble tulsi plant that can cure a range of ailments.

Scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru have decoded the humble plant to determine the genes responsible for production of compounds with potential medicinal properties.

From the study, scientists found that tulsi plant has about 40 special chemicals that have medicinal values.

Tulsi, famously known for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-pyretic and anti-cancer properties, is considered to be of Indian origin and has been under cultivation for almost 3000 years now.

Tulsi or Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) or Holy basil is a sacred plant in Hindu belief. The plant is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil.