Phytochemical evaluation of Ocimum basilicum (Sweet basil) leaves collected from Abakaliki-Nigeria, using Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Abstract

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is also known as King of herb's belonging to lamiaceae family. The present study was designed to investigate the probable bioactive components from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum using Gas chromatography -mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Six compounds were identified from the methanolic leaf extract; which were identified as; hexadecanoic acid (8.37%), hepta -9,10,11 -trienoic acid (17.04%), octadecenoic acid (8.37%), 5-(hydroxymethyl) heptadecane (13.75%), eicosane aldehyde (37.36%) and octadecyl vinyl ether (15.12%) among the major chemical constituents. The company of these phytocompounds in the plant extract may at least be conscientious for the aclaimed remedial and protective potentials of Ocimum basilicum and thus it is recommended as plant of phytopharmaceutical significance.