Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum (L.) Benth.

Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum or Thai basil is a variety of sweet or Italian basil native to Thailand and widely used as a garnish in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, consumed raw, cooked, or as a fragrant tea. Its essential oil is used in the culinary and fragrance industries, while its antioxidant and antibacterial content makes this basil a potential ingredient in acne treatment creams—though it is not recommended for use by pregnant women and children.

Thai basil grows well in a sunny location, with fertile, moist, well-drained soil that is allowed to dry slightly before watering again. Thai basil can also be grown indoors near a bright window if it receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Thai basil is generally found growing mainly in seasonally dry tropical biomes.

• Stem much-branched, purplish red, providing a nice contrast with the bright green leaves.
• Leaves narrow, arrow-shaped, smaller or about half the size of regular basil leaves, more serrated and one to two inches long. Darker green than regular basil leaves, glossy, and often with purple veins. Leaves have a spicier aroma compared to regular basil.
• Flowers bisexual, purplish pink. Inflorescence dense, branched, with loose whorls.

• Plant propagation is generative through seed and vegetative through cuttings.
• Seed germination takes 10-15 days.

Eugenol, linalool, methyl chavicol, β-(E)-ocimene, α-(E)-bergamotene, α-epi-cadinol, camphor, flavonoids, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, thiols, essential oil (α-pinene, sabinene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, and limonene), 8 phenolics (including rosmarinic, caftaric, caffeic, chicoric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, protocatechuic acid, and rutin), a large amount of polysaccharides.

Prevents inflammation, soothes inflammation from acne, addresses skin problems (ringworm, white patches or faded skin color, and redness accompanied by itching), protects and reduces the risk of nerve damage, fights colon cancer cells. Has antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial activity.

• Prepare Thai basil and wash clean with running water.
• Dry under the sun or with an oven at 40°C until the moisture content reaches 10%.
• Grind using a blender until it becomes powder.
• Store in a clean, airtight container.

Information not found. Further research is needed.