**5. Essential oil of** *Ocimum* **species**

Since ancient times, essential oils are known for their medicinal use, and they are very much interesting and impressive natural plant commodities. They continue to be of paramount importance until the present day. Essential oils have been tested as perfumes, flavors for foods and beverages, or to provide both bodies and care for thousands of years [16].


**185**

*O.* 

*kilimandscharicum* Guerke

Ocimum *Phytochemicals and Their Potential Impact on Human Health*

**Oxygenated sesquiterpenes**

**Triterpene**

basilol, ocimol

**Aromatic compounds**

**Monoterpene hydrocarbons**

isosylvestrene, γ-himachalene

**Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons**

**Oxygenated sesquiterpenes**

**Oxygenated monoterpene**

**Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons**

**Sesquiterpenes oxygenated** β-Caryophyllene epoxide

**Aromatic compounds** Methyl cinnamate

Cyclosativen

*O. canum* Sims. **Terpenoids**

p-cymene, myrcene, α-phellandrene, A3

thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, methyleugenol

γ-muurolene, β-cubebene, α-cubebene

**Phenolic compounds**

Vanillin

*O. gratissimum* L. **Monoterpene hydrocarbons**

**Oxygenated monoterpene**

**Species Class of compounds Reference**

α-Cadinol, α-humulene oxide, alloaromadendrene, β-basibolol, β-basibolol isomer, β-eudesmol, cubenol, caryophyllene oxide, 1,10-di-epi-cubenol, dihydroactinidiolide, isospathulenol, muurolol, spathulenol, T-cadinol, viridiflorol, (Z)-nerolidol

Alphitolic acid, betulin, betulinic acid, 3-epimaslinic acid, euscaphic acids, oleonolic acid, pomolic acid, ursolic acid,

4-Allylphenol, anethole, anisaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, cuminaldehyde, estragole, ethyl cinnamate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methyl eugenol, methyl salicylate, *p*-methoxycinnamaldehyde, phenethyl alcohol, phenyl acetaldehyde, safrole, benzaldehyde, *cis*-hex-3-enyl acetate

α-Phellandrene, α-pinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, β-pinene, camphene, limonene, d-limonene, β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, myrcene, ρ-cymene, terpinolene, thujene, α-terpinolene,

α-Citral, α-terpineol, borneol, bornyl acetate, camphor, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, myrtenol, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, terpinen-4-ol, *trans*-sabinene hydrate, (Z)-sabinene hydrate, α-campholenal, isoborneol, endo-borneol, globulol

α-Copaene, α-gurjunene, α-humulene, β-caryophyllene, β-copaene, β-cubebene, β-elemene, δ-cadinene, γ-muurolene, *trans*-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, germacrene-B, β-selinene

Cubenol, caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, α-cadinol, viridiflorol

α-Pinene, *cis*-ocimene, *trans*-ocimene, β-pinene, α-terpinene,

Camphor, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, trans-sabinene hydrate, linalool, δ-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol,

*trans*-Caryophyllene, germacrene-D, α-farnese, β-bisabolene, *cis*-β-ocimene, *trans*-β-ocimene, α-copaene, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene-D, β-selinene, trans-β-Farnesene, β-bisabolene, γ-cadinene, δ-cadinene,

limonene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, cis-sabinene hydrate


[19, 21]

[27]

[21]

[28, 29, 34]

[29–31, 34]

[31, 32, 34]

[28, 32]

[35–39]

[36, 39–41]

[33, 36, 40, 41]

[36]

[36]

[42]

[33]

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88555*

*Phytochemicals in Human Health*

**5. Essential oil of** *Ocimum* **species**

*O. basilicum* L. **Monoterpene hydrocarbons**

γ-terpinene

**Oxygenated monoterpene**

**Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons**

thousands of years [16].

consisting of fuel, structure, signaling, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on enzymes, and the catalytic activity of their holding (mostly as a cofactor to a stimulant), defense and interaction with distinct pathogens. Plant metabolites are categorized based on their biosynthetic pathways. The pathways of biosynthesis are responsible for the occurrence of both primary and secondary metabolites (**Figure 1**) [13, 14]. Plant secondary metabolites can be classified on the basis of chemical structure (for example, having rings, containing a sugar), composition (consisting of nitrogen or not), their solubility in numerous solvents, or the pathway by which they are synthesized (e.g., phenylpropanoid, which provides tannins).

Since ancient times, essential oils are known for their medicinal use, and they are very much interesting and impressive natural plant commodities. They continue to be of paramount importance until the present day. Essential oils have been tested as perfumes, flavors for foods and beverages, or to provide both bodies and care for

**Species Class of compounds Reference**

α-Phellandrene, α-pinene, α-terpinene, α-terpinolene, α-myrcene, β-phellandrene, β-pinene, camphene, *cis*-βocimene, *cis*-ocimene, δ-3-carene, β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, limonene, myrcene, *ρ*-cymene, sabinene, terpinolene, thujene,

α-Citral, α-fenchyl acetate, α-terpineol, borneol, bornyl acetate, camphor, carvacrol, carvone, 1,8-cineole, *cis*-linalool oxide, *cis*-rose oxide, citronellol, endo-fenchol, estragol, eugenol, exo-2-hydroxycineole-acetate, fenchone, geranial, geraniol, geranyl acetate, hotrienol, *iso*-neomenthol, *iso*-pinocamphone, *trans*pinocamphone, l-camphor, l-carvone, lavandulol, linalool, linalool *cis*-furanoid, linalool *trans*-furenoid, linalyl acetate, menthol, menthone, methyl chavicol, myrtenal, myrtenol, neral, nerol, ocimene oxide, pinocarvone, P-menth-1,8-dien-4-ol, piperitone, pulegone, terpinen-4-ol, terpinyl formate, *trans*linalool oxide, *trans*-myroxide, *trans*-sabinene hydrate, *trans*-*p*menth-2-en-1-ol, thymol, verbenone, (Z)-sabinene hydrate

β-acoradiene, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, β-cedrene, β-copaene, β-cubebene, β-elemene, β-guaiene, β-ocimene, β-selinene, cyclohexane, 2,4 diisopropenyl-1-methyl-1-vinyl, 1,4,7-cycloundecatriene,1,5,9,9-tetramethyl, α-acoradiene, α-amorphene, α-bulnesene, α-cadinene, α-cedrene, α-copaene, α-cubebene, α-guaiene, α-gurjunene, γ-gurjunene, α-7-episelinene, α-humulene, aromadendrene, α-(Z)-bergamotene, α-zingiberene, epsilon-muurolene, dehydroaromadendrene, germacrene-A, bicycloelemene, bicyclogermacrene, cadinene, cadina-3,5-diene, *cis*-calamene, *cis*-muurola-4(14),5-diene, (E)-β-farnesene, (E)-caryophyllene, 1-epibicyclosesquiphellandrene, germacrene-B, germacrene-D, guaia-1(10),11 diene, iso-caryophyllene, isoledene, longifolene, δ-selinene, St α-ylangene, *trans*-α-bisabolene, *trans*-α-bergamotene, *trans*-βfarnesene, *trans*-β-ocimene, *trans*-caryophyllene, valencene, γ-cadinene, γ-terpin, δ-cadinene, γ-muurolene, (Z)-calamenene [18–20, 23]

[18, 19, 21, 25]

[19, 26, 21–24]

**184**



**187**

Ocimum *Phytochemicals and Their Potential Impact on Human Health*

**Sesquiterpenes oxygenated**

**Monoterpene hydrocarbons**

**Oxygeneated monoterpenes**

**Sesquiterpenes hydrocarbon**

elemene, bourbonene, zingiberene

**Sesquiterpenes oxygenated**

**Aromatic compounds**

*Compositions of species-wise distribution of bioactive compounds in Ocimum species.*

γ-eudesmol

Estragole

**Aromatic compounds**

thujene, tricyclene

t-cadinol, spathulenol, viridiflorol

**Species Class of compounds Reference**

*p*-Methoxycinnamaldehyde, estragole, benzaldehyde

α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, limonene, (E)-β-ocimene, *p*-cymene, γ-terpinene, camphene hydrate, carene, terpinolene, sabinene hydrate, terpinene, ocimene, limonene, terpinene, phellandrene, myrcene, sabinene, camphene,

Linalool, borneol, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, geraniol, *trans*-linalool oxide (furanoid), δ-terpineol, terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, δ-terpineol, camphor,

β-Elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene D, β-selinene, α-selinene, α-cubebene, δ-cadinene, elemol, bicyclogermacrene, α-cadinene, copaene, β-elemen, α-guaiene, γ-muurolene, δ-cadinene, amorphene, cubebene, α-bisabolene, cadinene, β-bisabolene, muurolene, germacrene, humulene, farnesene, sesquiphellandrene, bergamotene, guaiene,

Spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, viridiflorol, β-eudesmol,

fenchone, *trans*-sabinene hydrate, eucalyptol

α-Cadinol, alloaromadendrene, caryophyllene oxide, cubenol,

[53, 54]

[51, 54]

[55–57]

[56–59]

[55–59]

[60, 61]

[55, 60]

Chemical diversification is of special significance if at the genus or species level both terpenes and phenylpropenes can be formed in the essential oil. Most Lamiaceae preferentially accumulate mono-(and sesqui-)terpenes in their erratic

The action of essential oils begins by entering the human body via three possible different ways including direct absorption through inhalation, ingestion or diffu-

**Table 1** presents published compositions of species-wise distribution of bioac-

The genus *Ocimum* (family Lamiaceae), collectively known as basil, is composed

of a diverse and rich source of essential oil containing plants. The main issues of concern with the use of herbal drugs remain safety, validation of claims and standardization of product. Different species and forms of *Ocimum* spp. vary in growth habit, color, and aromatic composition, making the true botanical identity of basil difficult (**Figure 2**). There exist the problems of significant variation in the content of *Ocimum* plants across and within species, with the implication of varied

oils but some genera show oils too rich in phenylpropenes [17].

sion through the skin tissue.

**Table 1.**

tive compounds in *Ocimum* species.

**6. Biological activities of** *Ocimum* **species**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88555*

*O. tenuiflorum* (white type)

Ocimum *Phytochemicals and Their Potential Impact on Human Health DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88555*


#### **Table 1.**

*Phytochemicals in Human Health*

**Species Class of compounds Reference**

α-Thujene, α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, sabinene, myrcene, α-terpinene, *p*-cymene, (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, perillene, (E)-βepoxyocimene, α-phellandrene, α-terpinene, *cis*-β-ocimene,

methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ol, fenchone, *trans*-linalool oxide (furanoid), camphor, δ-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, fenchyl acetate (endo), isobornyl acetate, borneol, thymol, menthone, geranial, α-fenchyl acetate, bornyl acetate, exo-2-hydroxycineole acetate, verbenone, camphenol, myrtenyl

α-Copaene, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, β-bisabolene, E, E-α-farnesene, δ-cadinene, α-cadinene, *trans*-α-bergamotene, aromadendrene, α-humulene, *epi*bicyclosesquiphellandrene, bicyclogermacrene, δ-guaiene, calamenene, (E)-α-bisabolene, valencene, *trans*-αbergamotene, γ-muurolene, α-muurolene, epi-α-muurolol, elemol, β-selinene, α-selinene, (Z,E)-α-farnesene, *trans*

α-Cadinol, spathulenol, (Z)-nerolidol, caryophyllene oxide,

α-Pinene, β-pinene, β-terpinene, d-limonene, camphene, sabinene, myrcene, *p*-cymene, limonene, α-terpinene, *α*-thujene, *α*-myrcene, α-terpinolene, terpinolene, γ-terpinene, (E)-β-ocimene, β-myrcene, *α*-camphene, β-terpinolene,

Linalool, menthol, methyl chavicol, α-citral, carvone, lavandulol, hotrienol, eugenol, 1,8-cineole, globulol, borneol, bornyl acetate, camphor, thymol, geranial, citronellol, E-linalool, β-citral, carvacrol, methyl chavicol, α-fenchyl acetate, myrtenol, terpinen-4-ol, *trans*-sabinene hydrate, *cis*-geraniol, *cis*-*α*-terpineol, *cis*-linalool oxide, eucalyptol, *cis*-linalool oxide (furanoid), *trans*-linaool oxide (furanoid),

Caryophyllene, β-farnesene, germacrene-D, isoledene, β-selinen, β-cubebene, β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, β-bourbonene, α-humulene, γ-muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, δ-cadinene, α-copaene, *trans*-caryophyllene, selinene, β-elemene, *β*-guaiene, β-bisabolene, α-guaiene, germacrene-B, valencene, (E)-β-farnesene, *trans*-α-bergamotene, α-cubebene, β-germacrene, α-farnesene, α-caryophyllene, α-selinene,

[43, 45, 48]

[43, 46, 48]

[45, 46, 49]

[42, 46]

[45, 47]

[44]

[46]

[50–52]

[52–54]

[50, 52–54]

**Monoterpenes hydrocarbon**

**Oxygeneated monoterpenes**

**Sesquiterpenes hydrocarbon**

β-ocimene, (E)-β-farnesene

**Oxygenated sesquiterpenes**

Methyl eugenol, estragole, benzyl benzoate

β-eudesmol, viridiflorol

**Aromatic compounds**

1-Octen-3-yl acetate

**Monoterpenes hydrocarbon**

**Oxygeneated monoterpenes**

**Sesquiterpenes hydrocarbon**

**Esters**

**Others** Naphthalene

β-*cis*-ocimene

δ-terpineol

(Z)-β-farnesene

*O. tenuiflorum* L*. syn. O. sanctum* L (purple type)

acetate

*cis*-sabinene hydrate, carene, tricyclene

Eugenol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, 5-isopropyl-2-

**186**

*Compositions of species-wise distribution of bioactive compounds in Ocimum species.*

Chemical diversification is of special significance if at the genus or species level both terpenes and phenylpropenes can be formed in the essential oil. Most Lamiaceae preferentially accumulate mono-(and sesqui-)terpenes in their erratic oils but some genera show oils too rich in phenylpropenes [17].

The action of essential oils begins by entering the human body via three possible different ways including direct absorption through inhalation, ingestion or diffusion through the skin tissue.

**Table 1** presents published compositions of species-wise distribution of bioactive compounds in *Ocimum* species.

### **6. Biological activities of** *Ocimum* **species**

The genus *Ocimum* (family Lamiaceae), collectively known as basil, is composed of a diverse and rich source of essential oil containing plants. The main issues of concern with the use of herbal drugs remain safety, validation of claims and standardization of product. Different species and forms of *Ocimum* spp. vary in growth habit, color, and aromatic composition, making the true botanical identity of basil difficult (**Figure 2**). There exist the problems of significant variation in the content of *Ocimum* plants across and within species, with the implication of varied

**Figure 2.**

*Different species of Ocimum (a) Ocimum basilicum L.; (b) Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke; (c) Ocimum gratissimum L.; (d) Ocimum canum Sims.; (e) Ocimum tenuiflorum L. syn. O. sanctum L. (purple type); (f) Ocimum tenuiflorum (white type).*

biological activities. During the last two decades, it has been shown that *Ocimum* oil and its constituents possess different biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.
