By
Ashwani Kumar | October 15th 2009 02:00 PM |
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Basil (Ocimum spp.), belonging to the Lamiaceae family,
is a pleasent by smelling perennial shrub which grows
in several regions all over the world (AKGÜL 1993; BARIAUX
et al. 1992). Basil is one of the species used for the
commercial seasoning. It is commonly known that the presence
of essential oils and their composition determine the
specific aroma of plants and the flavour of the condiments.
Many species of aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae
family grow wild in the Mediterranean basin (AKGÜL
1989; MAROTTI et al. 1996; SANDA et al. 1998; MARTINS
et al. 1999).
There are usually considerable variations in the contents
of the major components within this species. In a
study of essential oils of different geographical origins,
LAWRENCE (1988) found that the main constituents of
the essential oil of basil are produced by two different
biochemical pathways, the phenylpropanoids (methyl
chavicol, eugenol, methyleugenol and methyl cinnamate)
by the shikimic acid pathway, and the terpenes (linalool
and geraniol) by the mevalonic acid pathway.
Basil is a condimental plant cultivated in some parts of
Turkey, and used frequently in soups, desserts, pickles,
pizza, spagetti sauce, egg, cheese dishes, tomate juice,
dressings, confectionery, salads, meat products etc. as a
flavouring agent. Also, basil is well known as a plant of a
folk medicinal value and as such is accepted officially in a
number of countries (HEATH 1981; LAWRENCE 1985). The
leaves of basil are also used in folk medicine as tonic and
vermifuge. Also, basil tea taken hot is good for treating
nausea, flatulance and dysentery (BAYTOP 1984). Basil is
used in pharmacy for diuretic and stimulating properties,
in perfumes and cosmetics for its smell; in fact, it is a part
of many fragrance compositions (BARIAUX et al. 1992;
KHATRI et al. 1995). Its oil has been found to be beneficial
for the alleviation of mental fatigue, colds, spasms, rhinitis,
and as a first aid treatment for wasp stings and snake
bites. The essential oil has antifungal, physicochemical
and insect-repelling activity (LAHARIYA & RAO 1979;
DUBE et al. 1989; ÖZCAN 1998; MARTINS et al. 1999). It is
also regarded as highly antiseptic and has been applied
in boths to prevent postpartum infections. One can inhale
the vapours of the infusion of the leaves of O. minimum
or take a bath to improve the general conditions and
to ameliorate the respiratory function (MARTINS et al.
1999).
Source
MUSA ÖZCAN1 and JEAN-CLAUSE CHALCHAT2
Essential Oil Composition of Ocimum basilicum L.
and Ocimum minimum L. in Turkey
Czech J. Food Sci. Vol. 20, No. 6: 223–228
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