6 Diseases Using Scent Leaf For Infection may help treat

Scent leaf, also known as clove basil, African basil, or Ocimum gratissimum is a tropical herb that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of infections [1]. Findings suggest its extract may help treat listeriosis, HIV, Cryptococcosis, Trypanosomiasis, vibrios infection, and black pod disease due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, making it effective against the range of pathogens causing these diseases [2]. Today we shall explore how to use scent leaf for infection, and the list of infectious diseases that can be treated will scent leaf.

Infections can be detrimental to fertility and reproductive health if not checked. How research suggests that scent leaf can be used as a less expensive, yet effective remedy against certain infectious diseases.

CHECK OUT: 10 Emerging scent leaf health benefits, fertility Impacts & side effects

How to use scent leaf for infections

Here are some ways to use scent leaf for infection:

• Drink the juice extract.

To make a juice extract, wash and chop a handful of fresh scent leaves. Blend the leaves with a cup of water until smooth. Strain the juice and drink it immediately. You can also add honey to taste.

• Drink scent leaf tea.

To make scent leaf tea, boil a cup of water. Add a handful of fresh scent leaves to the boiling water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain the tea and drink it warm.

• Add the leaves to foods.

You can add fresh scent leaves to soups, stews, and salads. You can also add them to smoothies and juices.

• Combine with bitter leaf.

Bitter leaf is another herb that has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties. You can combine scent leaf with bitter leaf to make a more potent treatment for infection. To do this, boil a handful of each herb in a pot of water for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and drink it warm.

It is important to note that scent leaf is not a cure-all for infection. It is best to use it in conjunction with conventional medical treatment. If you have a serious infection, you should see a doctor.

Tip and Precautions when using scent leaf for infection:

Use fresh scent leaves whenever possible as dried ones may not be effective.

• If you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to start with a small dose of scent leaf and gradually increase it.
• Scent leaves can interact with certain medications, so it is important to talk to your doctor before using them.
• Scent leaf is generally safe for most people, but it is important to use it in moderation.
• Too much scent leaf can cause stomach upset and other side effects.

PICKS: How To Use Scent Leaf For Menstruation: 4 Impressive Benefits and Risks

Scent leaf and infection

Scent leaf is a plant rich in antioxidant compounds like flavonoids, and tannins, as well as essential oils. These compounds have been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. This quality makes it effective against a wide range of pathogens.

Scientific research and studies have noted that extract from scent leaf is effective in treating infectious diseases such as listeriosis, HIV, Cryptococcosis, Trypanosomiasis, vibrios infection, and black pod disease.

Aside from using scent leaf for infection, in traditional Indian medicine scent leaf is a well-known plant with several health benefits. Folklore medicine claims its use for a variety of ailments, including headaches, fever, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Research using in vitro and in vivo techniques has supported many of these claims.

Scent leaf and Listeriosis

A 3-month 14-day scientific study on African catfish noted scent leaf as a beneficial agent for improved growth performance, feed intake, and antioxidant and immunity defense of Clarias gariepinus.

For 3 months, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was fed with a 12 g/kg diet of scent leaf and 15 g/kg for 14 days. The extract of clove basil leaf aka scent leaf enhanced the fish’s ability to fight against the pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes [3].

According to the study, scent leaf extract is a safe and effective dietary supplement for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). It can improve the growth, health, and resistance to disease of the fish.

Fact about listeriosis causative pathogen

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen. It is a Gram-positive, motile, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness. Listeria monocytogenes can be found in a variety of foods. Listeria monocytogenes can survive and even grow in cold temperatures, making it a particular risk for foods that are stored in the refrigerator. The bacteria can also survive in high salt concentrations and low pH levels.

In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in the newborn. In older adults and people with weakened immune systems, listeriosis can be fatal.

Scent leaf and HIV

A comparative study that compared the effects of five includes Scent leaf, Ficus polite, Clausena anisata, Alchornea cordifolia, Elaeophorbia crucifer, and AZT on the replication and cytopathic of HIV-1 and HIV-2 [4 5].

The result showed that scent leaf and ficus polite have the highest antiviral indices against HIV-2, and successfully inhibited HIV-1 cytopathic.

All plant extracts inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity and proviral DNA copying. Although Elaeophorbia crucifer was selectively toxic to Molt-4/HIV cells.

• Molt-4 cells: These are a type of T cell that is often used in research on HIV infection.
• Molt-4/HIV cells: These are Molt-4 cells that have been infected with HIV.
• Cytopathic effect: This is the damage that is caused to cells by a virus.
• Reverse transcriptase: This is an enzyme that is used by HIV to copy its genetic material into the host cell’s DNA.
• Proviral DNA: This is the DNA of a virus that has been incorporated into the host cell’s DNA.

This suggests that scent leaf and other plant extracts tested may be effective in treating HIV infection. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosage and method of administration

Scent leaf and cryptococcosis

According to a study that investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of scent leaf against Cryptococcus neoformans. The extract from the scent was taken in the form of ethanolic crude extract, ethyl acetate, hexane, chloroformic fractions, essential oil, and eugenol using an agar dilution susceptibility method towards 25 isolates of Cryptococcus [6].

The result shown among the 5 different extracts used only chloroformic fractions of scent lead extract inhibited 23 isolates (about 92%) of Cryptococcus at a concentration of 62.5 µg/ml, followed by eugenol which inhibited 4 isolates (16%) at a concentration of 0.9 µg/ml. This means scent leaf extract can be a potential antifungal agent for cryptococcosis, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings, its safety, and efficacy in humans

Cryptococcus neoformans — a fungus that can cause a serious infection called cryptococcosis, which is often fatal in people with weakened immune systems. Although the antifungal therapies for cryptococcosis are currently limited, there is a need to find new drugs for this infection.

Scent leaf and Trypanosomiasis

Sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis) is common in Africa and is caused by Trypanosoma brucei. One scientific study investigated the anti-trypanosomal effects of the aqueous extract of scent leaf.

This result showed that scent leaf extract
inhibited the activities of trypanosome parasites that cause sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis) in vitro, however, a corresponding vivid study noted no significant reduction of parasitemia.

The study also found that the extract completely inhibited the survival and motility of trypanosomes within two hours of incubation. However, the parasite survival time was concentration-dependent, with lower concentrations (25 and 12.5 mg/ml) being more effective than higher concentrations (100, 75, and 50 mg/ml) [7].

Scent leaf and vibrios infection

Vibrios infection (Vibriosis) is a foodborne ailment that can be gotten by eating or consuming raw or undercooked seafood or exposing a wound to separation [8].

A scientific study that evaluated the anti-vibrio potentials of acetone and aqueous leaf extracts of scent leaf (clove basil), revealed that acetone extract was found to inhibit the activity of the test bacteria by 47.5%, whereas the aqueous extract inhibited the activities of the tested bacteria by 30%.

Although the interaction period varied with time it demonstrated a highly bactericidal effect after 6 and 8-hour interactions. The study concluded that the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities observed for Ocimum gratissimum leaf suggest that the plant is a potential source of bioactive components that may be effective in the treatment of vibrios infections. However, the study did not identify the specific bioactive components in the leaf extract that are responsible for the anti-vibrio activity. Hence, further studies are needed to identify these components and to determine their efficacy in treating vibrios infections [9].

Scent leaf and black pod disease

The study that investigated the effectiveness of a crude steam distillate from scent leaf extract on a fungus called Phytophthora palmivora that causes black pod disease of cocoa, noted that the extract is effective in controlling black pod disease in both laboratory and field trials [10].

In laboratory trials, the extract completely inhibited the pathogen and black pod lesion development in 75% of the infection courts. Disease suppression obtained with the extract was comparable to that obtained with a 2% Kocide 101 suspension, which is a commercial fungicide used to control black pod disease. In field trials, the white extract also suppressed lesion development, although to a significantly lower (P = 0.05) extent in comparison with Kocide 101.

The study suggested that scent leaves can be used as a promising natural product for controlling the black pod disease of cocoa. However further research is needed to develop the extract into a more effective and commercially viable product for controlling black pod disease.

Final thought

Overall, the evidence suggests that Ocimum gratissimum is a promising medicinal plant with a wide range of therapeutic potential. Further research is needed to fully understand the plant’s mechanisms of action and to develop standardized extracts and formulations for clinical use.