An Indian study suggests holy basil has antioxidant properties that help combat signs of aging. At the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester England, they said holy basil extract protected against free radicals, a key aging component.

Holy basil has sharp-tasting leaves that are often used in Asian dishes. The extract is in the ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine as a rejuvenation drug.

In the first formal study of the herb, pharmacy researchers found that holy basil extract was effective at protecting against free radicals - cancer-causing chemicals which can attack key organs such as the heart, liver and brain and damage genes and nerve cells.

Dr Shinde said: "The study validates the traditional use of herb as a youth-promoting substance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also helps describe how the herb acts at a cellular level".

Holy Basil also cures a host of other ailments, including coughing, fever, the common cold, soar throat, heart disorders, stress and much more. In native India, Holy Basil is known as "tulsi".