Are Basil and Sesamum Indicum in the same botanical family?

No — Basil is Lamiaceae and Sesamum Indicum is Pedaliaceae.

Can you substitute Basil for Sesamum Indicum?

They come from different families (Lamiaceae and Pedaliaceae), so direct substitution is uncommon.

Compare · per-herb profile

Basil vs Sesamum Indicum

Ocimum basilicum · Sesamum indicum

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

D No Clinical Evidence

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Ocimum
Primary use: culinary

Basil, also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also known as Genovese basil or sweet basil. Basil is native to tropical…

Sesamum Indicum

Sesamum indicum

D No Clinical Evidence

Family: Pedaliaceae
Genus: Sesamum
Primary use: culinary

Sesame is a plant in the genus Sesamum, also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods. World production in 2018 was…

At a glance

· Different families — Lamiaceae vs Pedaliaceae.
· Both are primarily culinary.
· Evidence tiers — Basil: D; Sesamum Indicum: D.