Ocimum basilicum

Ocimum basilicum, or Sweet Basil, is a culinary herb of major importance. Most culinary and ornamental basils are cultivars of the species Ocimum basilicum, but other species are also grown and there are many hybrids between species. Traditionally a green plant, some varieties, such as 'Purple Delight' are purple.

Similar species

Ocimum gratissimum ^,

List of the cultivars and their nomenclature

Genovese ^, .
Genovese Gigante

Toxicology

A toxicity study against fungi has been conducted by Dube et al. , which demonstrated that the plant is of insecticidal potent. Similar researches confirmed recently that the plant is very toxic to mosquitos . However, the plant is safe to rats . Neverthless, further scientific researches should be warranted, since there are no equivalent reports of its use against humans.

Aroma profiles

1,8-cineole ^,
Bergamotene
Eugenol ^,
Linalool
Methyl chavicol ^,
Methyl cinnamate ^,
Methyl eugenol ^,
Phenyl-propanoids
trans-β-Ocimene