Comparison of the Physical Characteristics and GC/MS of the Essential Oils of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum sanctum

Abstract. Essential oils of two medicinal plants of genus Ocimum, Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum sanctum, were compared for physical characteristics, iodine values, flavour tests, sodium/potassium levels and GC/MS. The density and refractive index (1.6368) of the essential oils of O. sanctum was more than that of O. basilicum essential oils. O. basilicum essential oils were dextro-rotatory, whereas, O. sanctum essential oils were levo-rotatory (-0.044º). Hydro-distillate of O. sanctum essential oil showed greater viscosity (26.75 g-1.cm.s) and fluidity was found to be greater for O. basilicum hydro-distillate (0.070 g.cm-1.s-1). The results of the essential oils of both the plants were same for flavour substances tests. The sodium/potassium levels of methanol extract of both the plants were 0.01 ppm and for n-hexane extract it was 0.00 ppm. Iodine value was found to be greatest for the n-hexane fraction of O. basilicum (3375.54) Besides many other constituents, GC/MS analysis showed the presence of fluorene, benzonitrile, m-phenethyl-,9H-fluorene, 9-methylene-, propanamide, N-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl- for the first time in the essential oils of both plants.