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Resea ch A icle
The Impac o Tukh Malanga (Basil seeds) on Diges i e Heal h
D . Anamika Dixi 1*, Saunda ya Gup a 2, Aamena Zaidi 3
1 Assis an P o esso , School o Heal h Science, Chha apa i Shahu Ji Maha aj Uni e si y, Kanpu , U a P adesh, India
2 S uden , School o Heal h Science, Chha apa i Shahu Ji Maha aj Uni e si y, Kanpu , U a P adesh, India
³ Assis an P o esso , School o Heal h Science, Chha apa i Shahu Ji Maha aj Uni e si y, Kanpu , U a P adesh, India
Co esponding Au ho : D . Anamika Dixi * DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17534502
Abs ac
Manusc ip In o ma ion
Commonly e e ed o as sabja seeds, ukma ia, o ukh malanga, basil seeds a e being used mo e
as a unc ional die and adi ional he apy o diges i e diso de s. Thei high die a y ib e and
mucilage- o ming polysaccha ide suppo indica ed me hods ha imp o e bowel egula i y,
lowe glycemic esponses, and ans o m he gu en i onmen .
Along wi h he nu i ional composi ion, physical p ope ies, and mechanis ic e idence (bulk-
o ming ib e, mucilage, p ebio ic po en ial, and an i-in lamma o y e ec s), his e iew
highligh s he a ailable clinical and p eclinical da a on diges i e e ec s (cons ipa ion, s ool
consis ency, mo ili y, and gu mic obio a). A la ge numbe o composi ional, in i o, animal,
and a ew bu g owing human/nu i ional in e en ion s udies suppo a po en ial bene icial e ec
o basil seeds in p omo ing diges i e com o and egula i y, despi e he cu en lack o high-
quali y andomised clinical ials and mechanis ic human mic obiome s udies. In addi ion o he
aluable sugges ions o he apeu ic use, majo esea ch gaps a e ecognised.
▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397
▪ Recei ed: 15-04-2025
▪ Accep ed: 28-04-2025
▪ Published: 31-04-2025
▪ IJCRM:4(2); 2025: 429-432
▪ ©2025, All Righ s Rese ed
▪ Plagia ism Checked: Yes
▪ Pee Re iew P ocess: Yes
How o Ci e his A icle
Dixi A, Gup a S, Zaidi A. The impac
o Tukh Malanga (Basil seeds) on
diges i e heal h. In J Con emp Res
Mul idiscip. 2025;4(2):429–432.
Access his A icle Online
www.mul ia iclesjou nal.com
KEYWORDS: Basil Seeds, Sabja, Tukma ia, Tukh Malanga, Ocimum basilicum, Mucilage, Die a y Fib e, Gu Mic obio a,
Cons ipa ion, Diges i e Heal h
In . J . o Con emp. Res. in Mul i. Volume 4 Issue 2 [Ma - Ap ] Yea 2025
430
© 2025 D . Anamika Dixi , Saunda ya Gup a, Aamena Zaidi. This is an open-access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons
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INTRODUCTION
Managing gu heal h is i al o gene al wellness, as
gas oin es inal unc ion impac s immunological esponse,
me abolic balance, and nu ien abso p ion. The pas ew yea s
ha e seen an inc ease in he demand o unc ional oods ha
na u ally suppo gu heal h h ough hei ib e, p ebio ic, and
bioac i e chemical con en (Hill e al., 2014) [3]. Amongs hose,
ukh malanga, some imes e med sabja, ukma ia, o basil seeds,
has gained ecogni ion as a adi ional bu neglec ed ood
componen ha may ha e diges i e quali ies (B a o e al., 2021)
[1].
Ocimum basilicum L., he plan ha p o ides basil seeds, can be
g own ex ensi ely h oughou Asia and is used o bo h
medicinal pu poses and ood p epa a ion. When soaked in wa e ,
he polysaccha ide- ich op laye o hese seeds p oduces a hick
mucilaginous gel (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [4]. This mucilage's
complex ca bohyd a es, pa icula ly glucomannans and
a abinogalac ans, ha e a high wa e -abso bing capaci y, a i al
cha ac e is ic ha aids in egula bowel mo emen s and so ens
s ool (Fa ías e al., 2024) [2]. The seeds a e likewise ich in die a y
ib e, omega-3 a y acids, and polyphenolic subs ances, all o
which may suppo gas oin es inal com o while shielding he
mucosa (Shah ajabian e al., 2020) [6].
Soaked basil seeds ha e been his o ically u ilised as an
al e na i e ea men o cons ipa ion, acidi y, and bloa ing in
Ayu edic and Unani adi ional medical sys ems. Mode n
nu i ional science is cu en ly suppo ing hese adi ional
claims by inding he po en ial o p omo e bowel mo ili y,
inc ease s ool size, and egula e he composi ion o he in es inal
mic obio a (B a o e al., 2021) [1]. The gel- o ming abili ies o
he mucilage may also indi ec ly boos me abolic heal h and
diges i e e iciency by delaying s omach emp ying and glucose
abso p ion (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [4].
The scien i ic p oo emains dispe sed despi e hese a ou able
indings. Acco ding o Fa ías e al. (2024) [2], he majo i y o
published s udies deal wi h composi ional analysis, in i o
e alua ions o mucilage unc ionali y, o animal models,
including e y ew la ge-scale human ials ocused on diges ion
ou comes. I is necessa y o ca y ou a comp ehensi e e iew o
he a ailable in o ma ion in o de o a ain a be e unde s anding
o he physiological mechanisms, clinical ou comes, and
esea ch gaps ele an o he consump ion o ukh malanga and
diges i e heal h. The pu pose o his e iew is o collec ecen
esea ch on he nu i ional, physicochemical, and biological
quali ies o basil seeds wi h a concen a ion on i s possible
impac on gas oin es inal unc ion and comple e diges i e
wellness.
METHODS
A ho ough e alua ion o he li e a u e was ca ied ou o iden i y
speci ic s udies on he e ec o basil seeds (Tukh Malanga o
Ocimum basilicum L.) on diges i e heal h. PubMed, Scopus,
ScienceDi ec , and Google Schola we e some o he elec onic
da abases e alua ed o loca ing English-language publica ions
published be ween 2000 and 2024.
Nu i ional & physicochemical p o ile ele an o diges ion
Basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.), commonly e e ed o as ukh
malanga, sabja, o ukma ia, a e widely ecognised o hei
dis inc i e physical p ope ies and nu i ional composi ion ha
con ibu e o many bene icial me i s o diges i e heal h. Along
wi h a b oad p o ile o bioac i e phy ochemicals, mine als, and
mucilaginous polysaccha ides, hese seeds a e loaded wi h
mac onu ien s, namely die a y ib e, p o ein, and essen ial a y
acids (B a o e al., 2021; Shah ajabian e al., 2020) [1, 6].
Nu i ional composi ion
Tukh malanga con ains app oxima ely 15–20% p o ein, 25–35%
lipids, and 40–45% die a y ib e, depending on he plan a ie y
and en i onmen al condi ions (Fa ías e al., 2024) [2]. The
majo i y o hei lipid ac ion is made up o unsa u a ed a y
acids, including linoleic (omega-6) and α-linolenic (omega-3)
acids, which suppo an i-in lamma o y and mucosal heal h
unc ions. The seeds a e also a good sou ce o essen ial mine als
such as calcium, magnesium, po assium, and i on—nu ien s bes
o main aining elec oly e balance and gas oin es inal mo ili y
(Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [4].
Fu he mo e, ukh malanga (basil seeds) include signi ican
quan i ies o phenolic and la onoid componen s such as
osma inic acid, icenin, and o ien in, which possess an ioxidan
and an i-in lamma o y p ope ies ha may shield he in es inal
epi helium om deg ada ion caused by oxida i e s ess
(Shah ajabian e al., 2020) [6]. Addi ionally, he low-calo ie and
ca bohyd a e con en o basil seeds makes hem an adequa e
unc ional elemen o glycemic con ol and weigh managemen ,
wo cha ac e is ics ha ha e been connec ed wi h enhanced
diges i e unc ion (Fa ías e al., 2024) [2].
Physicochemical p ope ies
One o he dis inc cha ac e is ics o ukh malanga is i s high
mucilage con en , which can be esponsible o up o 20% o he
seed's weigh (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [4]. The seed's ou e mos
pa immedia ely abso bs wa e when i 's made hyd a ed, and i s
polysaccha ide ma ix swells o c ea e a hick gel. A majo i y o
his mucilage consis s o complex ca bohyd a es such as
galac u onic acid, glucomannan, xylose, and a abinose (Nguyen-
Le e al., 2021) [4].
The physiological e ec s o he seeds on diges ion a e mos ly
due o hei wa e -holding capaci y and iscosi y, which imp o e
s ool hyd a ion, ease in es inal ansi , and coa he
gas oin es inal mucosa in a p o ec i e laye (B a o e al., 2021).
The mucilage om basil seeds has a high emulsi ying and
s abilising abili y in addi ion o i s swelling index, which makes
i a use ul na u al hyd ocolloid in ood p ocessing (Fa ías e al.,
2024) [2]. F om he s andpoin o diges ion, he gel- o ming
p ope y slows down he di usion o glucose and s omach
emp ying, which esul s in be e pos p andial glycemic con ol
and longe sa ie y (P angdimu i e al., 2025) [5]. While hese
cha ac e is ics a e simila o hose o o he mucilaginous seeds
like lax and chia, basil seeds equen ly ha e be e hyd a ion
kine ics and gel consis ency (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [4].
The e ec s o basil seeds on diges i e heal h a e based on hei
physicochemical p ope ies, pa icula ly hei high iscosi y,
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Wa e e en ion and e men able ib e con en . Inc eased s ool
size, be e bowel egula i y, and possible gu lo a modi ica ion
a e he main mechanisms unde lying hese e ec s. The p ecise
physiological p ocesses ia which hese cha ac e is ics suppo
gas oin es inal heal h and unc ion will be examined in he
ollowing sec ion.
Mechanisms o Ac ion on Diges i e Heal h
Bulk- o ming and s ool-so ening e ec s
Tukh malanga can abso b up o 30 imes hei weigh in wa e
when hey a e hyd a ed, c ea ing a hick gel. This mucilage
p omo es pe is alsis and acili a es de eca ion by inc easing s ool
olume and we ness. Psyllium husk and o he soluble ib es ha e
simila e ec s (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021; B a o e al., 2021) [4, 1].
Viscosi y and gas ic emp ying
In addi ion o ex ending sa ie y and egula ing pos p andial
glycemia, he iscous gel slows down s omach emp ying and
nu i ional abso p ion. This sys em p omo es me abolic con ol
and diges i e com o (Fa ías e al., 2024) [2].
P ebio ic po en ial and gu mic obio a modula ion
The e men able polysaccha ides included in ukh malanga
mucilage ac as subs a es o colonic bac e ia, which in u n
p oduce sho -chain a y acids (SCFAs) such as bu y a e and
ace a e. Bo h in es inal in lamma ion and mucosal in eg i y a e
enhanced by SCFAs (B a o e al., 2021; Hill e al., 2014) [1, 3].
An i-in lamma o y and an ioxidan e ec s
An ioxidan and an i-in lamma o y p ope ies o phenolic
compounds, such as osma inic acid, shield in es inal issues
om oxida i e s ess and p omo e mucosal epai (Shah ajabian
e al., 2020) [6].
E idence om P eclinical and Human S udies
In i o and physicochemical s udies
S udies conduc ed on animals and in labo a o ies co obo a e he
gu -p o ec i e and s ool- egula ing quali ies o basil seed
mucilage by con i ming i s high swelling index, iscosi y, and
mode a e e men abili y (Nguyen-Le e al., 2021; B a o e al.,
2021) [4, 1]. Addi ionally, gu issue in oden models exhibi s an i-
in lamma o y p ope ies.
Human clinical indings
Acco ding o he li le clinical da a, ea ing 5–15 g o basil seeds
daily can help wi h bloa ing, in es inal unc ion, and sa ie y
(Fa ías e al., 2024) [2]. These esul s in unc ional cons ipa ion
and dyspepsia a e suppo ed by adi ional indings.
Summa y o s udies
Au ho (Yea )
S udy Type
Key Findings
Nguyen-Le e al. (2021) [4]
In i o physicochemical s udy
High hyd a ion and swelling; suppo s s ool so ening
B a o e al. (2021) [1]
Composi ional and unc ional analysis
Pa ial e men abili y and mild p ebio ic ac i i y
Shah ajabian e al. (2020) [6]
Phy ochemical e iew
An ioxidan and an i-in lamma o y po en ial
Fa ías e al. (2024) [2]
Human ial
Imp o ed glycemic con ol and diges i e com o
T ipa hi e al. (2024) [7]
Ma e ial cha ac e iza ion
S ong hyd ocolloid and gel- o ming p ope ies
P angdimu i (n.d.) [5]
In i o e men a ion
Mode a e SCFA p oduc ion and mic obio a modula ion
Sa e y, Dosage, and P ac ical Recommenda ions
Sa e y p o ile
Consuming basil seeds (also known as ukh malanga o sabja) in
no mal ood p opo ions is ega ded as sa e o human
consump ion. No geno oxic o hepa o oxic e ec s om en i e
seeds o hei mucilage ha e been documen ed by oxicological
s udies (B a o e al., 2021; Nguyen-Le e al., 2021) [1, 4]. The
seeds a e well ole a ed in bo h human and animal se ings,
excep o mode a e, empo a y gas oin es inal side e ec s as
bloa ing, la ulence, o loose s ools, when la ge doses a e
ab up ly adminis e ed (Shah ajabian e al., 2020) [6].
Howe e , d ied seeds should ne e be aken wi hou i s being
soaked since hey quickly abso b wa e and expand, which migh
clog he h oa o oesophagus i hey hyd a e a e consump ion.
Youngs e s and he elde ly a e especially a isk o choking
(B a o e al., 2021) [1]. Thus, be o e ea ing, seeds should always
be soaked in wa e o a leas 15 o 20 minu es, o un il a clea
gel laye o ms.
Recommended dosage and p epa a ion
The majo i y o expe imen al and nu i ional esea ch uses 5–15
g ams (1–2 ablespoons) o soaked basil seeds pe day, which is
equi alen o abou 3–6 g ams o soluble ib e. This ange seems
adequa e o achie ing diges i e bene i s, including be e
egula i y and so e s ool (Fa ías e al., 2024) [2].
T adi ionally, he seeds a e soaked in a 1:10 a io o wa e o milk
un il hey become gela inous, a e which hey a e ei he ea en on
hei own o added o d inks like aloodas, smoo hies, o lemon
wa e . Fo ull hyd a ion, 15 o 30 minu es o soaking is
su icien ; an o e nigh soak is no equi ed (Nguyen-Le e al.,
2021) [4].
Po en ial in e ac ions and con aindica ions
The majo i y o die s can accommoda e basil seeds, bu hose
who ha e:
• Se e e diges i e diso de s (e.g., bowel obs uc ion, C ohn’s
disease s ic u es),
• Dysphagia o swallowing di icul y, o
• High- ib e sensi i i y should use hem wi h cau ion and
unde supe ision.
Al hough he e ha en' been any no able d ug in e ac ions
epo ed, heo e ical p udence is sugges ed o d ugs wi h limi ed
abso p ion windows because he mucilage may dec ease d ug
bioa ailabili y and impede gas oin es inal ansi i aken
In . J . o Con emp. Res. in Mul i. Volume 4 Issue 2 [Ma - Ap ] Yea 2025
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concu en ly. Basil seeds should be aken a leas an hou be o e
aking o al d ugs (Shah ajabian e al., 2020) [6].
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
Tukh Malanga (basil seeds) ha e se e al diges i e heal h-
p omo ing p ope ies, such as modula ing p ebio ics, p o ec ing
mucosa, and egula ing s ool. Thei mucilage- ich makeup
p omo es in es inal mo ili y and hyd a ion, while bioac i e
subs ances help wi h an ioxidan and an i-in lamma o y
p o ec ion.
Robus clinical alida ion is s ill lacking, despi e p omising
indings om p eclinical ials and adi ional use. S anda dised
andomised con olled ials e alua ing s ool me ics,
mic obiome al e a ions, and long- e m sa e y should be he main
emphasis o u u e esea ch. Basil seeds may be ma ke ed as a
unc ional ood and nu aceu ical o diges i e heal h wi h u he
in es iga ion.
REFERENCES
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esis ance and imp o es me abolic pa ame e s in adul s. Na
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