Comparison of Extraction Methods for the Rapid Determination of Essential Oil Content and Composition of Basil

Abstract

<jats:p>Essential oils were extracted from leaves, flowers, and stems of <jats:italic>Ocimum basilicurn, O. kilimandscharicum,</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>O. micranthum</jats:italic> by solvent extraction, hydrodistillation, and steam distillation for essential oil content and the oil analyzed by GC and GC/MS for composition. While the yield of essential oil was consistently higher from steam distillation than hydrodistillation, a similar number of compounds was recovered from both hydrodistillation and steam distillation. Though the relative concentration of the major constituents was similar by both methods, the absolute amounts were higher with steam distillation. Essential oil content and composition varied by plant species and plant part. Essential oil content was highest in flowers for O. <jats:italic>basilicum</jats:italic> and in leaves for O. <jats:italic>micranthum.</jats:italic> No significant differences were observed in essential oil yield and relative concentration of major constituents using fresh or dry samples and using samples from 75 g to 10 g of dry plant tissue. While minor differences between hydrodistillation and steam distillation were observed, both methods resulted in high yields and good recovery of essential oil constituents. Hydrodistillation is a more-rapid and simpler technique than steam and permits the extraction of essential oil where steam is not accessible.</jats:p>

Chemo-type of essential oil of Ocimum basilicum L. from DR Congo and relative in vitro antioxidant potential to the polarity of crude extracts

“…Similar studies on the analysis of the chemical composition of essential oil from O. basilicum growing in others countries have reported the occurrence of either some compounds we found in O. basilicum from DR Congo or with notably differences[39,40]. Many reasons can explain chemical plants contents differences as well as yields of extraction[36,37]. Indeed weather conditions of vegetative stage, harvesting methods, drying and storage conditions of plant material, the part of the plant, the process of distillation, storage conditions of the samples before experiences, etc.…”

“…The yield of this oil is low regarding to earlier works on extraction of essential oil of O. basilicum [36,37], however it is high in the study of Zheljazkov et al [38]. This can be explained by difference of the natural environment for each of the studied O. basilicum to grow and the management of the sample.…”

Morphological variability in holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) from India

“…It has long been recognized as a rich source of essential oil used as a major aromatic agent in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and aromatherapy industries (Charles and Simon 1990). Inter-specific hybridization and polyploidy within the genus have led to lack of clarity in taxonomic classification (Tucker 1986).…”

Essential Oils and New Antimicrobial Strategies

“…The most common methods are steam distillation, hydrodistillation, enfleurage technique and supercritical extraction. The extraction technique is a careful choice based on the nature of the plant specimen and thermal lability of the target oil constituents [34]. The principles and methodologies of selected essential oil isolation techniques are briefly described here.…”