Last Updated 10/08/2022

Do you have a question or two about scent leaf?

You're welcomed.

This post answers most of your questions about scent leaf (and more)

let's get started...

What Is Scent Leaf?

Scent leaf

Scent leaf is an aromatic tropical plant, which leaves are mostly used for cooking. Scent leaf extracts are also commonly used as traditional medicine in treating illnesses like fever, cough, body pain and so on.

Local Nigerian Name For Scent Leaf

Scent leaf in Igbo: Nshianwu

Scent leaf in Yoruba: Efirin

Scent leaf in Hausa: Daidoya

Scent leaf in Effik: Ntong

Scent leaf in Edo: Aramogbo

How To Use Scent Leaf

Scent leaf can be used fresh or dried in making foods like black soup, pepper soup and egusi soup. 

It can also be brewed as tea or juiced to be used as medicinal herbs to help treat various illnesses. 

And lastly, scent leaf can be incorporated into mosquito coils, incense, creams or ointments, to drive away insects and reptiles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scent Leaf

Here are some of the most common questions people ask about scent leaf:

What Is Scent Leaf Botanical Name?

The botanical name is Ocimum gratissimum. Family Labiatae

What Is Scent Leaf's Nutritional Fact?

100g of fresh scent leave contains:

Calories: 22
Protein: 3.2g
Fat: 0.6g
Carbs: 2.7g
Potassium: 295 mg
Sodium: 4mg

Scent leaf also contains some magnesium, cinnamic acid, anetol, boron compounds, eugenol compound, stigmasterol, tannin, zinc, tryptophan, iron and Vitamins A, B-6 and C

Is Scent Leaf The Same As Basil?

Scent leaf is similar to Basil. They are both members of the Ocimum genus. However, note that their  Chemical composition varies with geographical, environmental and genetic factors [M].

Is Scent Leaf Good For Weight Loss

Consuming scent leaf can indirectly help you with weight loss because they are very low in calories and full of nutrients.

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What Are The Health Benefits Of Bitter Leaf And Scent Leaf Juice

The mixture of Scent leaf and bitter leaf juice is said to have a wide range of health benefits including treatment for cough, malaria, fever, convulsion, cholera, pains, diarrhoea and so on.

What's Difference Between Mint Leaves And Scent Leaves?

There is a couple of differences between mint and scent leaf (even if they look alike). The most obvious difference is that Mint leaf has a 'peppermint' kind of scent while scent leaf does not.

Can Scent Leaf Abort Pregnancy?

Scent leaf may abort a pregnancy because it has been traditionally used in some African countries to induce abortion [O]. That said, it is unclear how much you have to take or what you have to mix it with to induce abortion. 

Is Scent Leaf Good For A Pregnant Woman (Is Scent Leaf Safe In Pregnancy)

Scent leaf is likely safe for pregnant women when consumed in food quantity.

Also, it has also been shown to help make childbirth easier, and reduce associated pain [P].

So, it's best you check with your doctor before use. 

Is Scent Leaf Good For Breastfeeding Mothers?

Based on hearsay, scent leaf may help lactating mums. However, there is hardly any research evidence on this. So, you have to check with your doctor to be on the safe side.

Is Scent Leaf Good For Pile/Haemorrhoids

Yes, scent leaf is good for treating Pile/Haemorrhoids according to a research study published in the Nigeria Scholars Research Library Annals of Biological Research.

Is Scent Leaf Good For Diabetes?

Yes, scent leaf is good for diabetes because it has long used in managing diabetes [B]. And they are a few research studies in favour of this.

Can Scent Leaf Cure Malaria?

Scent leaf  mixed with bitter leaf has been locally used in treating malaria. So scent may help cure malaria.

Is Scent Leaf Good For The Kidney?

There are no formal research studies that show if scent leaf is good for kidney or not, as of the time of writing this post.

Can Scent Leaf Cure Pimples?

Rumour has it that applying scent leaf as a face mask or in washing the face at least once or twice a week may help in treating and preventing pimples, acne and blackheads. 

However, as at the time of writing this piece, there's no clinical evidence to back this claim. 

Is Scent Leaf Good For Fertility/Conception

I didn't find any concrete or convincing evidence that scent leaf is good nor bad for fertility or conception.

Is Scent Leaf Good For An Ulcer Patient?

Yes, scent leaf may be of much benefit for an ulcer patient. Because a few studies have shown scent leaf extract to be effective for gastric ulcers.

How To Preserve Scent Leaves

You can preserve scent leaf in a variety of ways like:

1. Place scent leaves in a plastic bag and store in the fridge (last for up to two weeks).
2. Blend scent leaf to form purée and store in the fridge or freezer
3. Dry and store in a cool place.

Health Benefits Of Scent Leaf

Due to scent leaf's antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, it may help in improving and restoring health activities.

Here are some potential health benefits of scent leaf:

Protect From Cardiovascular Diseases 

Scent leaf may help protect you from heart problems. Because scent leaf contains heart-friendly nutrient like Magnesium. Which helps lower bad cholesterol level and improve  blood circulation.

That said, there is very few research work to support this claim. The closest research available, as I write this is, is the one carried out on rats.

Scent leaf (O. gratissimum) extract was shown to reduce the effect of induced cardiac abnormalities linked with liver fibrosis in rats [A]

It was also revealed that scent leaf extract can help protect and reverse toxicity and blood pressure changes linked with exposure of cobalt-chloride in rats [A]

Helps In Managing Diabetes 

Scent leaf has been long used in managing diabetes [B]

Limited study on rodents reports that scent leaf extract may have lower glucose levels. Which suggest that scent leaf may reverse poor nutrient digestion and absorption in diabetes mellitus [C] 

Cancer-Fighting Potential

Some research studies suggest that scent leaf may fight against the activity of certain cancer cell lines [E].

Fight Against Sickle Cell Anemia 

Ursolic acid found in scent leaf has demonstrated Anti-sickling activity. In other words, this compound combats the production of abnormal, rigid, sickle-shaped red blood cells [F]

Eliminates Cough

Scent leaf has been shown to be effective on respiratory allergy, due to its anti-inflammatory property. allergy [G]. 

Here's how to use scent leaf for cough:

Mix hot water and scent leaf extract (get extract by squeezing a couple of scent leaves). Drink the mixture to help you suit cough.

This mixture also helps in boosting your immune system to prevent cough in the first place.

Ulcer Reliever 

Scent leaf may help in relieving ulcer. Because sent leaf extract was shown to help lower gastric acid secretion and ulceration in rats with induced gastric ulcers [H]. 

Soothes Indigestion

Scent leaf juice is considerd to have a soothing effect on the digestive system. It may help in relieving diarrhoea, mules or other stomach disorders. 

Fights Fever & Malaria

Scent leaf has long been used traditionally to treat Malaria, Fever and headache [I]

Scent leaf  is commonly mixed with bitter leaf  in Nigeria as local malaria and fever treatment for.

 In addition, scent leaf's potent smell can drive away mosquitoes.

Helps Stop Diarrhoea

Scent leaf juice may help to stop watery stooling (i.e Diarrhoea).

Adding in some salt or lime juice is said to give a better result and experience. 

Stabilise Blood Sugar Level 

Scent leaf intake has been liked with lower blood sugar. This may be attributed to the cinnamanic acid present in scent leaf [C].

Which has been found to improve blood circulation, stabilise blood sugar, and enhance breathing in those with respiratory issues.

Urinary Tract Infection

Infused seeds of the scent leaf plant are speculated to help in locally treating urinary tract infections, gonorrhoea and vaginitis.

Combats Oral & Skin Infections 

Scent leaf can be quite effective in treating oral infections, tooth decay, mouth odour and fungal infections.

A small clinical study revealed that mouthwash made with scent leaf was effective in reducing gum bleeding, plaque and gingivitis [J].

Scent leaf extract can also be directly applied to the skin for treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases.

In addition, scent leaf may also be effective in  healing wounds and scratches on the skin. 

Improve Bone Health 

Due to anti-inflammatory properties and rich calcium content of scent leaf, it can help improve bone density and prevent bone diseases (like osteoporosis). 

Natural Food Preservative  

Scent leaf oil can serve as a food preservative because of its anti-microbial and anti-bacterial activities.

Mosquito And Other Insect Repellants  

Scent leaf extract has been used in making mosquito repellant [K]

 Also, scent leaf essential oil has been shown to display larvicidal activity against the Aedes albopictus mosquito [L]

Pain Reliever  

Scent leaf has also been suggested as an effective pain reliever.

Precautions, Warning & Side Effect Of Scent Leaf

Scent leaf, when taken in food quantity, has hardly any negative side effect.

However, an extract of scent leaf taken as medicine can cause the following side effects:

1. Low blood pressure: Scent leaf extracts may lower blood pressure. This can lead to excessive low blood pressure in people with blood pressure.

2. Bleeding disorders: Scent leaf oils and extracts may slow down blood clotting and increase bleeding. And this can lead to excessive bleeding in patients undergoing surgery or who have a bleeding disorder.

References

Click Here To View References

A. (Li PC, Chiu YW, Lin YM, et al. Herbal supplement ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy in rats with CCl(4)-induced liver cirrhosis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:139045.23243427)

B. (Ejike CE, Awazie SO, Nwangozi PA, Godwin CD. Synergistic postprandial blood glucose modulatory properties of Vernonia amygdalina (Del.), Gongronema latifolium (Benth.) and Occimum gratissimum (Linn.) aqueous decoctions. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013;149(1):111-116.23770031)

C. (Okon UA, Davies KG, Olubobokun TH. Improvement in nutrient handling in STZ induced diabetic rats treated with Ocimum gratissimumInt J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(1):49-53.25664269)

D. ( Singh P, Jayaramaiah RH, Agawane SB, et al. Potential dual role of eugenol in inhibiting advanced glycation end products in diabetes: proteomic and mechanistic insights. Sci Rep. 2016;6:18798.26739611)

E. (Nangia-Makker P, Raz T, Tait L, et al. Ocimum gratissimum retards breast cancer growth and progression and is a natural inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases. Cancer Biol Ther. 2013;14(5):417-427.23380593)

F. (Tshilanda DD, Onyamboko DN, Babady-Bila P, et al. Anti-sickling activity of ursolic acid isolated from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae). Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2015;5(4):215-221.26351101)

G. Costa RS, Carneiro TC, Cerqueira-Lima AT, et al. Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and rosmarinic acid, attenuate eosinophilic airway inflammation in an experimental model of respiratory allergy to Blomia tropicalisInt Immunopharmacol. 2012;13(1):126-134.22465960

H. (Ofem OE, Eno AE, Antai AB. Gastric acid anti-secretory, anti-ulcerogenic and mucogenic effects of aqueous leaves' extract of Ocimum gratissimum in rats. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2012;27(1):41-47.23235307)

I. (Nweze EI, Eze EE. Justification for the use of Ocimum gratissimum L in herbal medicine and its interaction with disc antibiotics. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009;9:37.19785729)

J.(Pereira SL, de Oliveira JW, Angelo KK, da Costa AM, Costa F. Clinical effect of a mouth rinse containing Ocimum gratissimum on plaque and gingivitis control. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2011;12(5):350-355.22269195)

 K. (Keziah EA, Nukenine EN, Danga SP, Younoussa L, Esimone CO. Creams formulated with Ocimum gratissimum L. and Lantana camara L. crude extracts and fractions as mosquito repellents against Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae). J Insect Sci. 2015;15.25881633)

L. (Sumitha KV, Thoppil JE. Larvicidal efficacy and chemical constituents of O. gratissumum L. (Lamiaceae) essential oil against Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res. 2016;115(2):673-680.26351101)

M. (Pandey AK, Singh P, Tripathi NN. Chemistry and bioactivities of essential oils of some Ocimum species: an overview. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014;4(9):682-694.) 

O. (Nikolajsen T, Nielsen F, Rasch V, et al. Uterine contraction induced by Tanzanian plants used to induce abortion. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;137(1):921-925.21645605)

P. (Attah AF, O'Brien M, Koehbach J, et al. Uterine contractility of plants used to facilitate childbirth in Nigerian ethnomedicine. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(1):377-382.22766472) 

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  1. I have really learnt a lot on scent leaf . I normally used it to prepare noodles . I will try it on juice making with little quantity no harm in trying .

  2. Thanks to have you sir, I want to use this avenue to implore you,to go ahead for a research. In orderly to know how it work for kidney cleanser sir.

  3. GD day Sir, please my son nd my wife and I drank an from scent leave water last thing in d night nd went to bed.but about 3hours later he came to wake us up complaining about his eyes ,he can't open it nd he said it's like a feeling of sands in d eyes causing discomfort nd serious pain as he tries to open it
    We only took clean water pray on it nd gave him to use it to clean his face nd ask him to relax nd sleep back.it would clear.But please is there any link btw d intake of scent leave nd D's experience, thanks Sir

  4. Good day to you.pls I want to know if scent leave is good for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED),and pls kindly enlighten me more on this subject. Thanks

    1. Studies are in progress but it has been seen in a few cases to help erectile dysfunction in men. This takes years though…

  5. How frequently can one drink scent leaf? And for how long can one drink scent leaf before stopping it? Is it better to boil or extracted by squeezing? Thanks for your beautiful and educative work.

    1. Better to boil, squeeze and drink. Except if infection is severe whereby you compulsorily have to see a doctor, scent leaf works effectively in managing infections to elimination stage but you have to be consistent in its intake as natural leaves are not fast action in curing health defects.

      Thank you

    2. How frequently can one drink scent and bitter leaves?. And for how long can one drink scent and bitter leaf before stopping it? Is it better to boil or extracted by squeezing? Thanks for your beautiful and educative work.

  6. If scent leaf is useful in treating sickle cell anemia, it should then be highly recommended for patients battling the disease.

    1. Often times, its safer not to mix herbal medicines with medicines made chemically. That's the reason why options likes leaves are not recommended during doctor patient interaction. So that it's easier to detect if a medicine or medicines prescribed are working or if they need change.

    1. Boil squeeze out tge juice and drink daily. You can take 2 -2 ; ie i cup in the morning one before bedtime till improvement. U can also go manual. Blend to smooth paste & rub small amount in the anus preferably after an evening bath and or before bedtime…

    1. From the above narration, person with low blood pressure can not take it since it has the property of lowering blood pressure.

    2. No go through the side effects ,it's causes low blood pressure when consume in large quantity
      It was states in this article please

    3. Advisably not because its active ingredients lower blood pressure which is why people with high blood pressure are sometimes advised to drink it…

  7. Thanks for the update is Educative.please does scent leave belongs to the parsley family.if no which leaf is parsley in Nigeria.thanks very much.

    1. Safe side one to two cups p, preferably medium size daily to achieve its maximum benefits. U can also drink daily and give a break in-between for some days. Say you drink one wk, you give one or two days without drinking. It is safe to consume daily though…

  8. Please how can I use Scent leaf to lower blood pressure. I mean how to use . I intend adding ginger to it. Let me know if I am in order.

    1. Be careful now. Ginger and scent leaf combo both contain active ingredients that reduce blood pressure. Taking both together, may amount to a drastic drop which could be life threatening on the long run.

  9. Wow…
    You know! There are so many thing we ‘see, use’ and we dont take note of their full importants, what a class. I’ve leant a lot. Thanks.

    1. Bitterleaf besides its bitter taste, has God-given medicinal properties that help to solve heath challenges. It is antibacterial antiinflamatory antimalarial when mixed with scent leaves, takes care of viral challenges and the list goes on. However, it can cause diarrhoea in some people, it prevents blood clot, can be harsh on the kidneys; leading to kidney damage but it is a good liver cleanser. It also possible that it lowers blood pressure, if have high BP but it can drop blood pressure dangerously, if not suffering from high blood pressure and this could be fatal…

  10. My baby of 15month have been urinating frequently with mild back pain. Can I go be her mixture of bitter leaf and scent leaf? I am a single mum, I can't afford to see a doctor.

    1. Please madam do NOT give your child but combinations. Scent leaf is safer, easier and friendlier to consume but with 2.5 to 5ml morning and night measured by a syringe. If child is taking medications, please do NOT give at the same time with bitter leaf. Please again, space out administration. Scent leaves help to stop diarrhoea slowly and naturally but can cause complications when mixed…

    1. Please are you try to cause yourself ulcer in your stomach or trying to experience internal explosion of your organs. Each mentioned are very strong in their own rights and can work independently to give you your desired results if used right. Garlic and lime can cause ulcer that could be life threatening in the long run. Garlic is a strong antibiotic that requires you eat very well. It can be used to kill what we call H pylori, a deadly ulcer bacteria. Lime on its own is very acidic and can distrupt the natural gastric juices in the stomach that can cause ulcer, indigestion, unberable heartburn, unsettling discomfort in the stomach that can make you feel ill if taken in large quantities or for a long period of time if mixed like you aforementioned. Scent leaf and ginger is just fine. Unless you want to do it individually.

  11. Comment Thank God for this information I have benefitted, I had painful urination for over 10 years but the use extrac from scent leave has done the trick. No more painful urination, strong scent,friquent,5 times at night, push before urination.

  12. I am very, very excited over ur write up. It enable me to

    know alot of cases that can be cure through scent leaf, so I need more of it uses tnx.

    1. Consuming scent leaf can indirectly help you with weight loss because they are very low in calories and full of nutrients.

  13. I have been suffering for allergic rhinitis since 2010/11, scent-leaf has really been helpful in most of the crisis. It clears stubborn cough and running nose.

    1. How did you do it,,,,cam you please help me you prepare and how you took it (cold or hot) squeezed or tea( cooked)

      1. Wash d Leaves properly. Blend it or mash it with ur hand, extract d water and drink it. It helps so well with Nasal Congestion and even Ear

    1. I’m not sure if Eating scent leaf in food quantity would affect your male organ. It shouldn’t.

      And for now, I don’t know how to use scent leaf to avoid the negative effect on men.

      When I find something on that, I would let you know.

      1. Please please I need your help, my six months old baby is suffering from diarrhoea how do I go about it with the help of scent leaf

          1. Please is it only adult that can take this scent leaves or both with children.
            Thank you sir

          2. I’m on HIV medication I’ve been on it for quite some months now maybe 7months and I want to take scent leaves to help treat my piles I don’t know if the combo can help if not so I desist from it .

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