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Dictionary of Allergies .. Basil, [(L) Ocimum basilicum]

Basil, [(L) Ocimum basilicum]

Herb used in cookery as fresh or dried leaves.  Specific IgE antibodies to basil were found in patients allergic to birch and mugwort pollen and celery[1]. Six triterpene acids identified as betulinic, oleanolic, ursolic, 3-epimaslinic, alphitolic and euscaphic acids have been isolated from a dichloromethane extract of hairy root cultures of Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae). These cultures were obtained by genetic transformation using Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The extract as well as the isolated compounds were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity by measuring their effect on the oxidative stress status of liver, induced by carbon tetrachloride, in albino rats and in liver homogenate in vitro. All tested compounds displayed hepatoprotective activity comparable to oleanolic and ursolic acids [2]. Rf269 is the symbol of basil in RAST and CAP system.

1. Wüthrich, B. et al: RAST-spezifische IgE auf Gewurze bei Sensibilisierungen gegen Birke-Beifusspollen und Sellerie. Allergologie.  1992:15;380-383.

2..Marzouk AM. Hepatoprotective triterpenes from hairy root cultures of Ocimum basilicum L. Z Naturforsch C.2009 Mar-Apr;64(3-4):201-9.

Γκέλης Ν.Δ. - Λεξικό Αλλεργίας - Εκδόσεις ΒΕΛΛΕΡOΦΟΝΤΗΣ - Κόρινθος 2013

Gelis Ν.D. - Dictionary of Allergies - VELLEROFONTIS Publications - Corinth 2013