Essential oil composition of Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum minimum L. in Turkey

The constituents of essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation of the overground parts of Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum minimum L. from Turkey were examined by GC-MS. A total of 49 and 41 components, respectively, were identified accounting for 88.1% and 74.4% of the oils of O. basilicum and O. minimum, respectively. The oil of O. basilicum contained, as main components, methyl eugenol (78.02%), α-cubebene (6.17%), nerol (0.83%) and ε-muurolene (0.74%). Major compounds in the volatile oil of O. minimum were geranyl acetate (69.48%), terpinen-4-ol (2.35%) and octan-3-yl-acetate (0.72%). The essential oil of O. basilicum was characterised by its high content of methyl eugenol (78.02%), whereas the most important essential oil constituent of O. minimum was geranyl acetate (69.48%).