Essential oil composition of three sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivaris

In the studies conducted in 2010–2011, the chemical composition of the essential oils of three sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars were investigated by GC-MS method. Forty eight compounds (95.08% of the total oil) were identified in the essential oil of O basilicum L. cv ‘Thai Siam’. The main components found in the oil were linalool (24.60 and 36.60% in 2010 and 2011, respectively), (E)-methyl cinnamate (18.73 and 21.90%) and methyl chavicol (5.57 and 7.50%). In the essential oil of O basilicum L. cv ‘Bolloso Napoletano’, forty constituents were identified, representing 97% of total oil. Linalool (41.09 and 47.75%), methyl chavicol (14.34 and 20.21%) and 1,8-cineole (7.21 and 10.23%) were the major components. Similarly, linalool (37.51 and 48.65%), methyl chavicol (13.41 and 18.55%) and 1,8-cineole (7.72 and 12.59%) were found to be the main constituents of the oil of O basilicum L. cv ‘A Foglie di Lattuga’. A total of 35 compounds were identified in this oil, representing 95.24% of the total oil content.