Comparison of the Chemical Composition of Essential Oils and Hydrolates from Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

• Published in: Journal of essential oil-bearing plants (Dehra Dun) 2016-02, Vol.19 (2), p.492-498
• Main Authors: Smigielski, Krzysztof B., Prusinowska, Renata, Bemska, Julita E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Common basil; Essential oil; Hydrolate; Ocimum basilicum
• ISSN: 0972-060X; 0976-5026
• DOI: 10.1080/0972060X.2014.960273

The chemical compositions of essential oils and hydrolates from fresh and dried aerial parts of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were compared. Both the essential oil and hydrolate from fresh basil were assigned to the methyleugenol-eugenol chemotype (44.9-51.26 % and 12.5-26 %, respectively), while the essential oil and hydrolate from dried material to the methyleugenol chemotype (33.4-45.8 %). In essential oils from fresh (F) and dried (D) material, about 97 % of the chemical compounds were identified, the main ones being methyleugenol (F 44.9 %, D 45.8 %), linalool (F 10.3 %, D 9.7 %), and eugenol (F 12.5 %, D 8.5 %). The main class of compounds in essential oils F and D comprises oxygen derivatives of monoterpene hydrocarbons (76.9 % and 75.3 %, respectively). In hydrolates from fresh (HF) and dried (HD) aerial parts of basil, 98.7 %, and 93.7 % of the chemical compounds were identified, respectively. Also here, the main compounds were methyleugenol (HF 51.0 %, HD 33.4 %), eugenol (HF 26.0 %, HD 5.8% ) and linalool (HF 11.3 %, HD 10.2 %).