Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil Obtained from Ocimum basilicum (Basil) Cultivated in Two Regions from South Brazil

Abstract

A comparative study of the chemical composition of essential oils of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in different localities in southern Brazil was conducted. This plant is seen as a promising source of linalool, a substance widely used in cosmetics and fragrances. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the procedures of drying plant and geographic origin of material plant (municipalities of Toledo (PR) and Jardinópolis (SC), south Brazil) provide significant changes in the chemical composition of essential oil. As a result, there were no significant differences in chemical composition of the oil from different regions, while the drying procedure has profoundly altered the chemical profile of the oil. Plant drying under sun reduced the concentration of linalool in the essential oil. These results can support future projects of essential oil production in these regions, characterized by the presence of small farms with a high incidence of family labor, which may represent a new source of income with a product with high added value.