According to new research from India, the herb Basil holds the key to protecting the body from the harmful effects of ageing.

The research, presented to the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, found that Holy Basil which is a close relative to that used in cooking can be effective in eliminating harmful molecules. This protects against damage caused by certain free radicals in organs such as the brain, heart and liver.

The herb extract, which is native to India, has been used in Ayurvedic Medicine as a rejuvenation drug to promote youthfulness and good physical and mental health. Researchers from the Poona College of Pharmacy, India, studied the anti-oxidant and anti-ageing properties of the herb.

“The study validates the traditional use of herb as a youth-promoting substance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also helps describe how the herb acts at a cellular level,” said lead researcher Dr Vaibhav Shinde

Find a local practitioner