The medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional medical practitioners for curing various diseases in their day-to-day practice. In traditional systems of medicine, different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even whole plant) of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi), a small herb seen throughout India, have been recommended for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, skin diseases, arthritis, painful eye diseases, chronic fever, insect bite etc... The phytochemical analysis signifies the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and essential elements (vitamins and minerals) which is responsible for different pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, etc. The present review summarizes the information concerning pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antiulcer, analgesic, radiation protective, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, antistress, anticataract, anticoagulant, anticonvulsant, genoprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, antiasthmatic, mosquitocidal and antiplasmodial activity. Diversified phenolic and flavonoid phytoconstituents of tulsi are responsible for anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antistress, antidiabetic, antiulcer, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. Further, therapeutic potency of tulsi reflects in clinical trial reports provide satisfactory results with negligible adverse effects, which might be emerge as a green medicine to lessen the global burden of microbial, inflammation, metabolic associated disorders, etc.

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