EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM HOLY BASIL (OCIMUM SANCTUM) BY STEAM DISTILLATION AND ITS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROFILING

Journal: Acta Chemica Malaysia (ACMY)
Author:Usman Mureed, Kiran Asad, Zohaib Saddique, Akhtar Hussain, Ahmad Zulfiqar
ISSN: 2576-6732
e-ISSN: 2576-6724

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/acmy.02.2023.89.101

The research and analysis of bioactive components from aromatic plants, specifically Holy basil, which has demonstrated significant medicinal benefits, were conducted. To examine the existence of these therapeutic compounds, three distinct methods for solvent extraction were utilized: distillation, soxhlet extraction, and expressiveness (petrissage). A total of 56 chemicals were identified after GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) investigation, the majority of which were terpenoids and hydrocarbons. Significant components within the essential oil included estragole, licorice extract, geraniol, dimethyl citronella, luteolin, and licorice extract. The experimental outcomes suggest that Holy basil demonstrates rapid leaf growth, with each stem producing an additional four to five leaves capable of mobilizing sucrose, potentially contributing to the development of monoterpenes. The presence of oxygenated components in the oil, known for their flavoring and therapeutic properties, underscores its potential as an economically viable product, especially in the production of aromatic compounds, owing to its low proportion of oxidized constituents. These findings emphasize the significance of Holy basil’s essential oil as a valuable source of medicinal compounds.