Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery
ISSN 1829-006X
2025; 144–161
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THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM PHYTOCHEMICALS IN ORAL CANCERA COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Lakshmi Thangavelu*, Ramana Gangireddy, Raju Balaji, Muthu Thiruvengadam, Prathap Manivannan

Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andra Pradesh, India · Department of Applied Bioscience, College of Life and Environmental Science, Konkuk University, South Korea 4Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India · Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 2026-04-08 · Published: 2025-05-15

© 2025 The Author(s) and the original publisher.

CC BY-NC 4.0 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Originally published in Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025 — https://doi.org/10.58240/1829006X-2025.21.4-144.

Original title
THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF OCIMUM TENUIFLORUM PHYTOCHEMICALS IN ORAL CANCERA COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
Authors
Lakshmi Thangavelu, Ramana Gangireddy, Raju Balaji, Muthu Thiruvengadam, Prathap Manivannan
Source journal
Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery
Published
2025-05-15
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Original
https://doi.org/10.58240/1829006X-2025.21.4-144

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer remains a significant global health challenge, characterized by high mortality rates and limited effective treatment options. There is a growing interest in natural bioactive compounds as potential therapeutic agents to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. Purpose: This review aims to explore the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds derived from Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (Holy basil or Tulsi) in the management of oral cancer. Methods: A comprehensive literature survey was conducted PubMed, Scopus, and Web od Science database to analyze the mechanisms through which key phytochemicals from O. tenuiflorum, such as eugenol, rosmarinic acid, apigenin, and linalool, exert anticancer effects. Keywords included: “Ocimum tenuiflorum,” “Tulsi,” “Bioactive Compounds,” “Nanotechnology,” “Oral Cancer,” “Personalized Medicine.” We focused on modulating oxidative stress, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting metastasis by interfering with critical signaling pathways. Results: The selected phytochemicals demonstrated potent anticancer properties against oral cancer cells in preclinical studies. They effectively modulated oxidative stress, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited metastatic progression. However, significant gaps persist regarding their clinical applicability and long-term safety profiles. Conclusions: Ocimum tenuiflorum exhibits transformative potential in oral cancer therapy. Future research should prioritize clinical translation of these preclinical findings and focus on developing novel therapeutic agents tailored to individual patient needs.
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