Research · Randomized controlled trial
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of an Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil) extract on stress, mood, and sleep in adults experiencing stress
What it found
Perceived stress fell 37% vs 19% on placebo (p=0.003) and insomnia scores improved; hair and salivary cortisol were lower, though mood (POMS) did not differ from placebo.
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Year
- 2022
- Sample size
- 100
- Population
- adults experiencing stress
- Intervention
- holy basil extract 250 mg/day vs placebo for 8 weeks
- Outcome
- perceived stress, insomnia, mood, cortisol
- Journal
- Frontiers in Nutrition
Citation last checked 2026-06-21.