Abstract
Basil (Ocimum L.) species are used as medicinal plants due to their essential oils exhibiting specific biological activity. The present work demonstrated that both the variety and season/conditions of cultivation had a significant effect on (i) the produced amount (extraction yield), (ii) qualitative, as well as (iii) quantitative profile of basil essential oil. Among studied basil varieties, a new variety, ‘Mánes’, was characterized for the first time. Based on our quantitative evaluation of GC-MS profiles, the following chemotypes and average concentrations of a main component were detected in the studied basil varieties: ‘Ohře’, ‘Lettuce Leaf’, ‘Purple Opaal’, ‘Dark Green’ (linalool, 5.99, 2.49, 2.34, 2.01 mg/mL, respectively), and ‘Mammolo Genovese’, ‘Mánes’, ‘Red Rubin’ (eucalyptol, 1.34, 0.96, 0.76 mg/mL, respectively). At the same time, when considering other compounds identified in GC-MS profiles, all the studied varieties, except from ‘Lettuce Leaf’, were methyl eugenol-rich with a strong dependence of the eugenol:methyl eugenol ratio on the seasonal changes (mainly solar irradiation, but also temperature and relative humidity). More complex and/or variable (depending on the season and cultivation) chemotypes were observed with ‘Lettuce Leaf’ (plus estragole, 2.27 mg/mL), ‘Dark Green’ (plus eucalyptol, 1.36 mg/mL), ‘Mammolo Genovese’ (plus eugenol, 1.19 mg/mL), ‘Red Rubin’ (plus linalool and eugenol, 0.46 and 0.56 mg/mL, respectively), and ‘Mánes’ (plus linalool and eugenol, 0.58 and 0.40 mg/mL, respectively). When considering superior extraction yield (ca. 17 mL·kg−1, i.e., two to five times higher than other examined varieties) and consistent amounts (yields) of essential oil when comparing inter-seasonal or inter-year data (RSD and inter-year difference in mean yield values ˂2.5%), this new basil variety is very promising for use in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.
Highlights
Basil (Ocimum L.) species have been used for centuries as medicinal plants
The content of the basil essential oil in the aerial part of plant of seven basil varieties was determined by the method of steam distillation according to [21], without using xylene
Chemotypes of the studied varieties were evaluated by quantification of four main basil essential oil constituents and comparing the obtained results with data presented in the literature
Summary
Basil (Ocimum L.) species have been used for centuries as medicinal plants. Basil essential oils are responsible for characteristic aroma and biological activity [1,2]. The chemical composition of sweet basil essential oil, to other oil plants, depends on genetic, ontogenetic, and environmental factors [3]. The morphological and chemical variability of the basil creates great possibilities for growing different cultivars of this valuable herbal plant. Numerous basil cultivars and forms, differing in the plant size, habitus, color, and shape and size of the leaves and flowers [4], content and chemical composition of the essential oil [5,6,7], as well as other biologically active substances [8], are currently cultivated in Europe and in the world.
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