Tulsi contains many different bioactive compounds which could provide benefits through their individual and synergistic effects. Still, how tulsi works is not well understood, and more research is needed.
Many of the phytochemicals in tulsi are known to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. The anti-inflammatory effects are thought to be due to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase enzymes which are responsible for producing inflammatory compounds (e.g., leukotrienes, prostaglandins). Further, it’s been proposed that tulsi might modulate the stress response by influencing the HPA axis and produce antidiabetic effects by reducing glucose absorption and improving beta-cell function.[1][2][3][4]