Introduction

Basil, a flavour-enhancing Mediterranean herb, is not only tasty but also has many health-promoting properties. This nutritious green leaf has been linked with many beneficial effects on the human body, including preventing cancer, regulating blood sugar levels, improving cognitive functioning, improving cardiovascular health, boosting the immune system and tackling inflammation within the body. 

Chronic conditions caused by inflammation such as arthritis are ailments with few notable successful medical treatment regimes. These life-limiting conditions are generally seen as irreversible, with people left to manage pain and symptoms with general analgesics and often expecting to manage progressive symptoms for their entire longevity, with little to no hope of a cure and a return to normal joint health and mobility. 

In recent years, the use of natural plant-based remedies and modified diets have become increasingly popular. This could be caused by the lack of treatment options for chronic conditions, along with the lack of detrimental side effects experienced when consuming natural extracts for health benefits. Basil has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that can promote joint health, also contains an abundance of vitamins that are can only be beneficial to health.

So, this essential component in Italian cuisine not only tastes great, it may also increase the quality of life through the twilight years of life if consumed regularly. This can only add to the promises already made by following the Mediterranean diet and improving health.

What is inflammation?

Acute vs chronic

Inflammation in itself is a natural and essential process. Inflammation forms part of the immune response allowing increased blood flow to the site of injury or infection, allowing essential components such as immune cells and wound healing compounds to reach to the site to promote healing. This is known as acute inflammation and is an essential response in maintaining homeostasis within the body.

Some common causes of acute inflammation include:

• A response to infection by microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses
• An allergic reaction
• An encounter with an irritant e.g. asbestos
• Physical injury²

However, in chronic inflammation, the usually transient encounter is prolonged for months or even years, depending upon the nature of the injury. 

Some causes of chronic inflammation include:

• The body is unable to eliminate infectious microorganisms
• Some chemicals are unable to be broken down by the body and remain within the body in low levels inducing a prolonged inflammatory response
• Autoimmune conditions whereby the body reacts to an internal normal bodily component as if it is foreign and continues to battle against it, for example, rheumatoid arthritis¹
• Joint damage

Symptoms of inflammation

Inflammation is a common experience which most people will have encountered. The symptoms associated with a person experiencing an inflammatory response include:

• Heat. The site of inflammation is hot to touch
• Redness. The site is red and may be confused for a rash
• Swelling of the tissues
• Pain
• Loss of function in the area²

Inflammation and joint health

The joints are well known for sustaining injury. They are continually functioning to allow mobility of the human body and sustain a lot of wear and tear over the years that can lead to damage. Inflammation is a response to tissue damage and therefore the joints are a likely site of inflammation.

Inflammation is a painful and necessary step in treating the site of injury in a joint, however due to the functions of the joint it can have many undesired consequences such as; decreased mobility, excessive pain and a direct impact on a person’s ability to carry out their day to day normal tasks. If a person were to injure a joint, depending on the severity of the injury, the inflammation should be short-lived.

However, if a person were to continually sustain damage to the joints, such as in the instance of athletic performers, the effects of prolonged inflammation could lead to irreversible joint destruction and deformation of the tissues leading to a condition known as arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis

Arthritis is a very common condition, affecting millions of people within the UK. ³ Arthritis is currently irreversible as the symptoms include damage to the joint itself leading to inferior functioning. There are two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis. Osteoarthritis is commonly seen in older adults and is degenerative wearing away of the joint tissue over time.

Osteoarthritis has not been classified as being caused by chronic inflammation in the past and has been largely viewed as an unfortunate product of the ageing process, however, recent studies have implicated that inflammation may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of this disease.⁴

Inflammatory arthritis is a group of arthritic conditions signified by chronic inflammation leading to damage to the cartilage of the joints, in turn leading to deformation of the joint and mobility consequences to the sufferer. Arthritis of this kind does not only limit mobility but also causes intense pain and discomfort to the sufferer.

Basil

Basil is a culinary herb used globally in many cuisines. It is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Basil is native to India, rather than Italy, where people commonly associate its use in cooking. It is an aromatic green leafy shrub that is readily available in almost all convenience stores.

For centuries, basil has been used for medicinal purposes, with one of the first recordings of its use being in 1579, where it was used to treat heart problems, digestive issues, headaches and depression.⁵ However basil dates back thousands of years, with the ancient Egyptians using it as an ingredient in the embalming process. 

The bioactive compounds of basil

Basil contains an abundance of health-boosting compounds including flavonoids, polyphenols and phenolic acids.⁶

Flavonoids are found in many fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids have a wide range of properties that are useful in the treatment and prevention of disease. They are anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, increase cardiovascular health and decrease neurodegenerative disease.⁷

Summary

Basil, a Mediterranean herb, is not only a popular culinary ingredient but also a source of numerous health benefits. It contains bioactive compounds like flavonoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids, which offer anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardiovascular advantages. Inflammation, a natural immune response, can become chronic and lead to conditions like arthritis, which impacts joint health and mobility.

While chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis lack definitive cures, basil's anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. As a key element in the Mediterranean diet, regular consumption of basil could support overall health and combat inflammation-driven ailments.