Basil Sprouts Nutrition Information
Basil is sometimes used with fresh fruit and in fruit jams and sauces—in particular with strawberries, but also raspberries or dark-colored plums. Basil is one of the main ingredients in pesto. There are many rituals and beliefs associated with basil. The French call basil "l'herbe royale". Jewish folklore suggests it adds strength while fasting. It is a symbol of love in present-day Italy, but represented hatred in ancient Greece, and European lore sometimes claims that basil is a symbol of Satan. African legend claims that basil protects against scorpions, while the English botanist Culpeper cites one "Hilarius, a French physician" as affirming it as common knowledge that smelling basil too much would breed scorpions in the brain.
Recently, there has been much research into the health
benefits conferred by the essential oils found in basil. Scientific studies have
established that compounds in basil oil have potent antioxidant hence
anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-microbial properties. In addition,
basil has been shown to decrease the occurrence of platelet aggregation and
experimental thrombus in mice. It is traditionally used for supplementary
treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India.
Basil, like other aromatic plants such as fennel and tarragon, contains
estragole, a known carcinogen and teratogen in rats and mice. While human
effects are currently unstudied, the rodent experiments indicate that it would
take 100–1000 times the normal anticipated exposure to become a cancer risk
| Nutrient | Units | Value per 100 grams |
Number of Data Points |
Std. Error |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proximates | ||||
| Water |
g
|
92.06
|
3
|
1.105
|
| Energy |
kcal
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
| Energy |
kJ
|
94
|
0
|
0
|
| Protein |
g
|
3.15
|
3
|
0.607
|
| Total lipid (fat) |
g
|
0.64
|
3
|
0.03
|
| Ash |
g
|
1.49
|
3
|
0.06
|
| Carbohydrate, by difference |
g
|
2.65
|
0
|
0
|
| Fiber, total dietary |
g
|
1.6
|
3
|
0.195
|
| Sugars, total |
g
|
0.30
|
1
|
0
|
| Sucrose |
g
|
0.00
|
1
|
0
|
| Glucose (dextrose) |
g
|
0.02
|
1
|
0
|
| Fructose |
g
|
0.02
|
1
|
0
|
| Lactose |
g
|
0.00
|
1
|
0
|
| Maltose |
g
|
0.00
|
1
|
0
|
| Galactose |
g
|
0.27
|
1
|
0
|
| Minerals | ||||
| Calcium, Ca |
mg
|
177
|
3
|
23.05
|
| Iron, Fe |
mg
|
3.17
|
0
|
0
|
| Magnesium, Mg |
mg
|
64
|
3
|
17.15
|
| Phosphorus, P |
mg
|
56
|
3
|
12.8
|
| Potassium, K |
mg
|
295
|
3
|
166.75
|
| Sodium, Na |
mg
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
| Zinc, Zn |
mg
|
0.81
|
3
|
0.039
|
| Copper, Cu |
mg
|
0.385
|
3
|
0.095
|
| Manganese, Mn |
mg
|
1.148
|
3
|
0.298
|
| Selenium, Se |
mcg
|
0.3
|
1
|
0
|
| Vitamins | ||||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid |
mg
|
18.0
|
0
|
0
|
| Thiamin |
mg
|
0.034
|
3
|
0.007
|
| Riboflavin |
mg
|
0.076
|
3
|
0.003
|
| Niacin |
mg
|
0.902
|
3
|
0.023
|
| Pantothenic acid |
mg
|
0.209
|
3
|
0.029
|
| Vitamin B-6 |
mg
|
0.155
|
3
|
0.026
|
| Folate, total |
mcg
|
68
|
3
|
4.419
|
| Folic acid |
mcg
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Folate, food |
mcg
|
68
|
3
|
4.419
|
| Folate, DFE |
mcg_DFE
|
68
|
0
|
0
|
| Choline, total |
mg
|
11.4
|
0
|
0
|
| Betaine |
mg
|
0.4
|
1
|
0
|
| Vitamin B-12 |
mcg
|
0.00
|
0
|
0
|
| Vitamin B-12, added |
mcg
|
0.00
|
0
|
0
|
| Vitamin A, RAE |
mcg_RAE
|
264
|
0
|
0
|
| Retinol |
mcg
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Carotene, beta |
mcg
|
3142
|
10
|
1361.178
|
| Carotene, alpha |
mcg
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
| Cryptoxanthin, beta |
mcg
|
46
|
7
|
43.25
|
| Vitamin A, IU |
IU
|
5275
|
0
|
0
|
| Lycopene |
mcg
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
| Lutein + zeaxanthin |
mcg
|
5650
|
7
|
1400
|
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) |
mg
|
0.80
|
1
|
0
|
| Vitamin E, added |
mg
|
0.00
|
0
|
0
|
| Tocopherol, beta |
mg
|
0.00
|
1
|
0
|
| Tocopherol, gamma |
mg
|
0.16
|
1
|
0
|
| Tocopherol, delta |
mg
|
0.00
|
1
|
0
|
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) |
mcg
|
414.8
|
1
|
0
|