Ocimum gratissimum L.: a promising source of Eugenol

Eugenol (C10H12O2) presents various therapeutic properties. Due to this fact, it arises interest into the pharmaceutic industry and it has a commercial value. However, there is still a low offer of this product in the market. The aim of this work was to evaluate the Eugenol concentration in the essential oil from dried leaves of O. gratissimum L., and to determine whether this species bares promising characteristics as a source of eugenol. Fresh leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. were used to extract the essential oil by hydrodistillation, and after the distillation of the essential oil a chromatographic analysis was performed. The essential oil (1.66% to 6,29%) was subjected to descriptive analysis and it has been observed that: the essential oil samples presented eugenol concentration of 82.40% after extraction. The storage has yielded a raise in eugenol concentration and about of this observation the essential oil of O. gratissimum L. presented potential as a eugenol source.