| Abstract: |
Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as Tulsi or Holy Basil, represents a significant medicinal plant with extensive therapeutic applications in traditional and modern medicine. This research investigated the phytochemical characterization and biotechnological assessment of bioactive compounds present in O. sanctum leaves through advanced analytical methodologies. Fresh leaves were collected, processed, and subjected to comprehensive phytochemical screening using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and spectrophotometric analyses. The hypothesis postulated that O. sanctum leaves contain quantifiable medicinal compounds with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Results revealed the presence of major phytochemicals including eugenol (22.0%), β-caryophyllene (19.1%), ursolic acid (0.478%), rosmarinic acid (212.26 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content (54.51 mg QE/g). The extracts demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity with DPPH scavenging IC50 values of 3.91 μg/ml and strong antimicrobial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria. Statistical analysis confirmed significant correlation between phytochemical content and bioactivity (p |
