Holybasil (tulsi) lowers fasting glucose and improves lipid profile in adults with metabolic disease: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Objective: To examine the effect of holy basil (tulsi) on metabolic syndrome parameters. Methods: Electronic database searches using relevant MeSH, free text terms and manual searches of the key references was performed up to August 2017. Study quality was evaluated using the Jadad scale. Effect size estimates were calculated as Mean Differences with 95% confidence interval(CI) using the random-effects model. Results: Consumption of tulsi significantly lowered mean fasting blood glucose [pooled MD: -15.69, 95% CI: -28.67 to -2.70; p = 0.02, I-2 = 91.22%] compared to control interventions. Subgroup analysis further revealed total, LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in older participants with metabolic disease. Conclusions: Short-term effects of tulsi as a single herb was effective at reducing fasting blood glucose. In older (>= 40 years) patients with metabolic disease tulsi supplementation at higher doses (>= 1 g/day) is associated with a reduction in total, LDL and VLDL cholesterol without changing overall lipid profiles.