Fresh Basil (Ocimum basilicum – family Lamiaceae)

Description

Basil is an annual aromatic herb widely cultivated in temperate and Mediterranean regions for its culinary and functional uses. The plant is characterized by an upright growth habit, branched herbaceous stems, and opposite, oval-shaped leaves with a smooth or slightly blistered surface. The leaves are bright green and emit a distinctive aroma due to their essential oil content. Small white to pale pink flowers develop in terminal inflorescences during the reproductive stage.

Basil thrives in warm conditions with full sun exposure and well-drained soils, and it is sensitive to low temperatures and waterlogging. Harvesting is typically performed before flowering in order to preserve the optimal aromatic and biochemical profile of the leaves. The raw material consists mainly of fresh or dried leaves, which are used both as a culinary ingredient and as a source of bioactive compounds. Beyond its sensory properties, basil is valued for its contribution of micronutrients and naturally occurring phytochemicals that support its nutritional relevance.

Botanical classification (APG IV)

Plant and raw material characteristics

Indicative average nutritional values per 100 g

Average values referring to fresh basil. Natural variability may occur depending on cultivar, harvest time, and growing conditions.

Note on nutritional use of the bioactive compounds present

Basil contains several bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential oils. Key constituents such as linalool, eugenol, and rosmarinic acid are associated with antioxidant activity and contribute to protection against oxidative stress. When consumed fresh, basil provides moderate amounts of these compounds, complementing a balanced diet. Its nutritional role is primarily qualitative, linked to phytochemical intake and sensory enhancement rather than macronutrient contribution.

Medical and pharmaceutical applications

Food applications

Cosmetic applications

Main INCI functions

• Perfuming

• Skin conditioning

• Tonic

• Deodorant

Industrial applications

• Flavor and fragrance industry: production of natural aromas.

• Technical perfumery: functional and environmental fragrances.

• Cosmetic manufacturing: botanical ingredients for natural lines.

• Feed industry: natural flavoring agents in selected formulations.

• Research and development: volatile compound analysis and extract standardization.

Studies

Basil studies

(1) Sestili P, Ismail T, Calcabrini C, Guescini M, Catanzaro E, Turrini E, Layla A, Akhtar S, Fimognari C. The potential effects of Ocimum basilicum on health: a review of pharmacological and toxicological studies. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2018 Jul;14(7):679-692. doi: 10.1080/17425255.2018.1484450. 

Abstract. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L., OB) is a plant world widely used as a spice and a typical ingredient of the healthy Mediterranean diet. In traditional medicine, OB is indicated for many maladies and conditions; OB-containing nutritional supplements are increasingly sold. Conversely, safety concerns have been raised about the promutagens and procarcinogens alkenylbenzenes contained in OB. Areas covered: A critical review of the current status of OB as a nutraceutical, the pharmacology of its bioactive components, the rationale for its indications, and its safety. Expert opinion: Due to the polyphenolic and flavonoidic content, OB can be considered as an important ingredient in healthy diets; OB preparations may be effective as chemopreventive agents or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of different clinical conditions. From a toxicological perspective, since the tumorigenic potential of alkenylbenzenes is counteracted by other OB constituents such as nevadensin, it can be concluded that OB consumption in food and preparations is safe. The only concern relates to OB essential oils: in this case, a concentration limit for alkenylbenzenes should be precautionary defined, and the use of plant chemotypes with no or low levels of these alkylbenzenes for the preparation of essential oils should be made compulsory.

Suppakul P, Miltz J, Sonneveld K, Bigger SW. Antimicrobial properties of basil and its possible application in food packaging. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 May 21;51(11):3197-207. doi: 10.1021/jf021038t.

Abstract. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a popular culinary herb, and its essential oils have been used extensively for many years in food products, perfumery, and dental and oral products. Basil essential oils and their principal constituents were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and mold. The present paper reviews primarily the topic of basil essential oils with regards to their chemical composition, their effect on microorganisms, the test methods for antimicrobial activity determination, and their possible future use in food preservation or as the active (antimicrobial), slow release, component of an active package.

Fang JY, Leu YL, Hwang TL, Cheng HC. Essential oils from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) as novel enhancers to accelerate transdermal drug delivery. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Nov;27(11):1819-25. doi: 10.1248/bpb.27.1819. 

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the essential oils from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum, OB) as skin permeation enhancers to promote the percutaneous absorption of drugs. The in vitro and in vivo irritancy of the essential oils was also examined. Terpenes with various carbon numbers (mono-, sesqui-, di-, and tri-) were identified in both the lower-polarity fraction (OB-1) and higher-polarity fraction (OB-2). In vitro skin permeation and deposition of indomethacin were significantly enhanced after treatment with OB essential oils. The enhancing effect of OB-1 was greater than that of OB-2 in the in vitro permeation and in vivo cutaneous microdialysis analyses as well as in the plasma concentration of indomethacin. On the other hand, the in vivo study showed that OB-2 had a greater ability to retain the drug within the skin than did OB-1. Enhancement of the skin permeation of drugs by OB essential oils might be mainly due to improvement in the partitioning of the drugs to the stratum corneum. Both in vitro cell cultures (keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts) and in vivo transepidermal water loss showed no or only negligible irritation to skin by OB essential oils.

Sakkas H, Papadopoulou C. Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2017 Mar 28;27(3):429-438. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1608.08024.

Abstract. For centuries, plants have been used for a wide variety of purposes, from treating infectious diseases to food preservation and perfume production. Presently, the increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials in combination with the appearance of emerging diseases requires the urgent development of new, more effective drugs. Plants, due to the large biological and structural diversity of their components, constitute a unique and renewable source for the discovery of new antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic compounds. In the present paper, the history, composition, and antimicrobial activities of the basil, oregano, and thyme essential oils are reviewed.