Chemical composition of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil from the South Western Ghats, India

Abstract

The essential oil from aerial parts of Ocimum gratissimum (Rama tulsi) growing in the South Western Ghats, India was examined for the first time. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and resulted in 1.31% oil (w/v) on a dry weight basis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of O. gratissimum resulted in 18 chemical constituents comprising 99.4% of the oil. The main fractions were found to be classified as phenylpropene (55.73%), sesquiterpenes (27.49%) and monoterpenes (16.14%). The major constituents were eugenol (54.42%), germacrene D (15.43%), beta-ocimene (12.37%), and caryophyllene (4.59%). These major constituents can be utilized for aroma, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries.