The Composition of Various Oils of Ocimum basilicum L.

ABSTRACT

A comparison between the chemical composition of basil oils produced by distillation from fresh or dried leaves or extraction (using CH₂Cl₂ at 25°C) from frozen or dried leaves was made. Although 19 compounds were characterized by GC/MS, the linalool, estragole, and eugenol contents were found to vary from 26.6–50.0%, 0.4–45.1%, and 2.5–27.0%, respectively.

KEY WORD INDEX:

• Ocimum basilicum
• Labiatae
• essential oil composition