Chemical characterization of basil (Ocimum spp.) found in the markets and used in traditional medicine in Brazil

Ocimum species are used both in Brazilian traditional medicine against bron chitis, coughs, and sorethroat, and in foods and flavorings. The traditiona l uses of basil in Brazil are reviewed and fourteen accessions of basil, O. americanum (I), O. basilicum (3), O. campechianum (3), O. gratissimum (5), and O. selloi (2) were collected and brought from Brazil to the USA and gr own at Purdue University. Upon flowering the volatile oils were extracted b y hydrodistillation and chemically analyzed by GC/MS. Accessions of O. grat issimum showed high eugenol (40-66%) and high thymol (31%), as a relative p ercentage of total volatile oil. Ocimum campechianum accessions showed high 1,8-cineole (62%) and beta-caryophyllene (78.7%). Accessions of O. basilic um were found to be rich in 1,8-cineole (22%), linalool (49.7%), methyl cha vicol (47%) or methyl (E)-cinnamate (65.5%). An O. americanum var, american um accession showed high methyl (E)-cinnamate (>90%). Volatile oils of O. b asilicum and O. gratissimum naturalized in Brazil reflected the range of ch emotypes found in their country of origin. Unusual basils from other Ocimum species were identified that can serve as genetic sources of aroma chemica ls for crop improvement.