The scientists' findings make you sit up and take notice and deserve closer inspection. Under certain conditions, basil has a mutagenic and cancer-causing effect. Find out the details here.
Can basil be carcinogenic?
Basil can, under certain circumstances, have mutagenic and cancer-causing effects, particularly due to the essential oil estragole. However, you would have to consume over 20 basil leaves daily to exceed the questionable threshold.
Estragole essential oil under suspicion
The mint family basil is valued worldwide as an aromatic spice. It is the essential oils in particular that contribute to the inimitable taste of the leaves. In animal experiments, scientists found that estragole can have, among other things, carcinogenic effects. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment therefore issued a warning that this substance may no longer be contained, particularly in tea mixtures for infants and small children.
There is currently a lack of detailed information regarding any he alth-endangering effects on humans. The warning is therefore purely a precautionary measure. If the harmful amounts from the test animals are extrapolated to a human, the questionable threshold is exceeded from an amount of 20 basil leaves per day. No one will eat such a quantity voluntarily.
Positive aspects outweigh
There is nothing wrong with continuing to use basil as an aromatic culinary herb. In addition to its legendary flavoring power, royal herb scores with other beneficial attributes that are based on decades of experience in natural medicine:
- Basil stimulates the appetite
- Flating and stomach pressure are relieved
- the nerves are steeled and the mind calms
- Sesquiterpenes contained have an anti-inflammatory effect in the throat
- As an alcoholic extract, basil has a wound-healing effect
- Headache goes away
- the ingredient linalool lifts the mood
First and foremost, basil is a delicious ingredient in Mediterranean dishes, fish, meat, salads, poultry and soups. Since the herb plant thrives well in a pot on the balcony, it can be harvested all summer long. Anything that doesn't go straight into the pot can be easily preserved by drying, pickling or freezing.
Tips & Tricks
If penetrating wasps or mosquitoes spoil your stay on the balcony or terrace, get some help from Basil. Simply place a bouquet on the table and the pests will make a floor around the seat. The small miracle is achieved by the essential oils that royal herb exudes around itself.
