Potential activity of basil plants as a source of antioxidants and anticancer agents as affected by organic and bio-organic fertilization.

Abstract

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a popular culinary herbal crop grown for fresh or dry leaf, essential oil and seed markets. Recently, basil was shown to rank highest among species and herbal crops for phenolic compounds, essential oils which are associated with decreasing risks of cancer and aging diseases. The current study aimed to evaluate the potential activity of phenolic, flavonoids and essential oil of basil as antioxidant and anticancer activities by application organic and bio-organic fertilization. A pot experiment was conducted. Basil seeds were grown, with three levels of organic fertilizers (compost) in presence or absence of biofertilizer. Growth parameters, pigments content, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of methanolic plant extract were examined. Application of 50% compost and 50% sand in the presence of biofertilizer resulted in enhancement fresh and dry weights, total phenolics, total flavonoids and pigment content as compared with compost alone. The constituents of essential oils extracted by hydrodistilation of basil leaves were identified by GLC. Eleven components of essential oils were identified. The highest value of antioxidant and anticancer activities were obtained in basil plants grown in 50% and 75% compost treatments in the presence of biofertilizer. These results emphasized the important of bioorganic fertilizers for enhancement the antioxidant activity of phenolics, flavonoids, and essential oils of basil plant extract.