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Dietary supplement

Tulsi Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Karuna

Tulsi label
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Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Tulsi against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Tulsi is a dietary supplement by Karuna with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for stress and anxiety, blood sugar support, respiratory complaints.Based on those ingredients, 212 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Tulsi. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Tulsi by Karuna

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Tulsi by Karuna — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Tulsi by Karuna

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Sep 17, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: holy basil (also called tulsi). The capsule itself is vegetarian.

Holy basil has been used traditionally to support stress and wellness, though the evidence behind its specific uses isn't fully established in clinical trials yet.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

We hold no graded evidence for this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Premier Ayurvedic adaptogen.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

The data we hold rates holy basil's effectiveness as insufficient reliable evidence for generalized anxiety, asthma, headache, respiratory infections, dental plaque, and diabetes. That means the studies done so far aren't robust enough to say whether it works for these uses or not — it's not a "no," just "we don't know yet."

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Holy Basil

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Holy basil is generally well tolerated short-term in adults, but long-term safety data are limited. The most common side effects reported in trials are loose stools and nausea — a small number of participants experienced these.

The safety data advises against using it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because animal data raise concerns and human safety isn't established.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Holy Basil

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Holy Basil.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 212 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you use blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (like warfarin or aspirin), diabetes medications, or pentobarbital or other sedatives — holy basil may increase bleeding risk, lower blood sugar too much, or strengthen sedative effects.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Tulsi may be worth considering if you're interested in traditional herbal support for stress, but evidence for specific uses isn't firm yet. If you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or sedatives, you'll need to check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Talk it over with your healthcare provider, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or on any regular medications.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 23, 2014.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Tulsi, straight from the product label.

Brand Karuna
Barcode (UPC) 018647052122
Net contents 120 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 23, 2014
DSLD ID 25083
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Tulsi by Karuna, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
4 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
018647052122
IngredientAmount% DV
Tulsi800 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Seals/Symbols

KARUNA(R) RESPONSIBLE NUTRITION(TM)

General Statements

Premier Ayurvedic Adaptogen

This product is intended for professional use and is manufactured under strict quality control to ensure the optimum in purity, potency and reliability.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use for adults: 2-4 capsules early morning and afternoon or as directed by your health care practitioner.

Formulation

This product contains no yeast, wheat, soy, corn, milk, salt, sugar, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring.

Storage

Keep in a cool, dry place, tightly capped.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Tulsi by Karuna label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Tulsi label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Tulsi by Karuna

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Tulsi

Interacts with
212 drugs
800 mg per serving

Holy basil (tulsi) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb most often used today for stress and general wellness, but the human evidence is mostly small and p...

Tulsi monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Tulsi by Karuna Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Tulsi?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
212Drugs
212 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Tulsi 212

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Tulsi interact with 212 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Tulsi interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Tulsi

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Tulsi with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Tulsi3 drug types · 212 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, holy basil seed oil might increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Animal research shows that holy basil seed oil can prolong bleeding time, possibly due to inhibition of platelet aggregation. However, it is not known if this occurs in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, holy basil might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking holy basil can decrease fasting blood glucose and other measures of glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Theoretically, holy basil seed oil might increase the sedative effects of pentobarbital.
Animal research shows that holy basil seed oil increases pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. However, it is not known if this occurs in humans or if this applies to other barbiturates or sedatives.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Tulsi full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Tulsi, from the product label.

Karuna

See all Karuna products
Name
Karuna Corporation
City
Novato
State
CA
ZipCode
94949
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Tulsi by Karuna: Common Questions

Does Tulsi by Karuna interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Tulsi has a known interaction with 212 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Tulsi contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data advises against using holy basil during pregnancy and while breastfeeding because animal data raise concerns and human safety isn't established. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what's right for you.
What are the side effects?
Holy basil is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects reported in trials are loose stools and nausea — a small number of people taking it experienced these.
Does this actually work for anxiety or other conditions?
The evidence isn't established yet. Studies done so far aren't robust enough to say whether holy basil works for anxiety, asthma, headache, infections, dental plaque, or diabetes — it's not ruled out, just not proven.
What is tulsi, and is it the same as holy basil?
Yes — tulsi and holy basil are the same plant. It's been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and this product contains one active ingredient: holy basil extract in a vegetarian capsule.
How long has holy basil been tested for safety?
Holy basil appears well tolerated short-term in adults, but long-term safety data are limited. If you're thinking of taking it regularly, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Tulsi label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Tulsi’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Holy Basil

Interacts with 212 drugs

Holy basil (tulsi) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb most often used today for stress and general wellness, but the human evidence is mostly small and preliminary. It is generally well tolerat...

Read the full Holy Basil monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Tulsi's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 8 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Holy Basil 8 references
  1. Agrawal P, Rai V, Singh RB. Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996;34:406-9.
  2. Sakina MR, Dandiya PC, Hamdard ME, Hameed A. Preliminary psychopharmacological evaluation of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;28:143-50. PubMed
  3. Singh S, Rehan HM, Majumdar DK. Effect of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil on blood pressure, blood clotting time and pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. J Ethnopharmacol 2001;78:139-43. PubMed
  4. Mondal, S., Varma, S., Bamola, V. D., Naik, S. N., Mirdha, B. R., Padhi, M. M., Mehta, N., and Mahapatra, S. C. Double-blinded randomized controlled trial for immunomodulatory effects of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) leaf extract on healthy volunteers. J PubMed
  5. Agarwal, P. and Nagesh, L. Comparative evaluation of efficacy of 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Listerine and Tulsi extract mouth rinses on salivary Streptococcus mutans count of high school children--RCT. Contemp.Clin Trials 2011;32(6):802-808. PubMed
  6. Vohora, S. B., Garg, S. K., and Chaudhury, R. R. Antifertility screening of plants. 3. Effect of six indigenous plants on early pregnancy in albino rats. Indian J Med Res 1969;57(5):893-899.
  7. Khanna S, Gupta SR, Grover JK. Effect of long term feeding of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum Linn) on reproductive performance of adult albino rats. Indian J Exp Biol 1986;24(5):302-4.
  8. Somasundaram G, Manimekalai K, Salwe KJ, Pandiamunian J. Evaluation of the antidiabetic effect of Ocimum sanctum in type 2 diabetes patients. Int J Life Sci Pharma Res 2012;2(3):75-81.

See these in context on the Holy Basil monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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