The Open Horticulture Journal

2009, 2 : 13-16
Published online 2009 March 6. DOI: 10.2174/1874840600902010013
Publisher ID: TOHORTJ-2-13

Variation in the Essential Oils in Different Leaves of Basil ( L.) at Day Time

Xianmin Chang , Peter G. Alderson and Charles J. Wright
Agronomy Institute, Orkney College UHI, East Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LX, UK.

ABSTRACT

Essential oil molecules released from fresh leaves of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were collected in Tenax traps and analysed using a TD-GC/MS. During daytime from 09.00 to 17.00, there were no differences in the content and composition of total essential oils, however the percentage of eugenol increased slightly. Significant differences were found in both the total content and composition of essential oils between young and mature leaves. The total content in young leaves was four times higher than in mature leaves, with fourfold, twofold and sixtyfold differences in the relative contents of linalool, eugenol and methyl eugenol respectively. There was no difference observed in the relative content of 1,8-cineole. The results therefore suggest that the defining sampling procedure is important when comparing the essential oils between treatments.

Keywords:

Sweet basil, , essential oil composition, linalool, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1, 8-cineole.