Chemotypic Characterization of Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oils for Ethiopian Genotypes

Abstract

Affirmation of variability among Ocimum basilicum L. genotypes is quite sure through sole morphological description. Furthermore, chemical print enhances confidence about the presence of varieties within genotypes. Characterizing the chemical compositions of essential oils for morphologically classified Ocimum basilicum genotypes was an aim for this work. Hydro distillation of the fresh leaves of Ocimum basilicum genotypes were acquired an essential oil yield of the range 0.09-0.26%. Totally, 36 compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis of Ocimum basilicum essential oil. Thus, a major compound of Bisabolene (45.79% and 43.92%), Eugenol (13.96% and 12.08%) and Estragole (13.35% and 10.15%) were characterized for 01WOL and 02WOL genotypes of Ocimum basilicum respectively. The genotype 03HAD was abundant in Bisabolene (27.22%), Geraniol (10.05%), Estragole (8.72%) and Citral (8.52%). Genotypes of 04HAD, 05KAM, and 06WON were majorly constituted with Methyl cinnamate (51.12-58.05%) and β-Linalool (28.71-32.56%). The six genotypes were characterized as three chemotypes of distinctive constituent, of which Bisabolene and Eugenol (01WOL, 02WOL); Citral and Geraniol (03HAD) and Methyl cinnamate and β-Linalool (04HAD, 05KAM, 06WON). Therefore, consumption of Ocimum basilicum is guided through purposive interests of consumers as of the distinctive flavor character of Ocimum basilicum genotypes.