General
- Basil's botanical
name is Ocimium basilicum. It is a native of India, South Asia, the
Middle East and has been grown for thousands of years in the
Mediterranean region. Basil is found growing wild in tropical and
sub-tropical regions of the world.
- There are many
varieties of basil: Sweet Basil, Bush Basil, Dark Opal Basil, Lemon
Basil, Holy Basil, Vero Basil, Purple Ruffle Basil and the list goes
on. Sweet Basil and Bush Basil are best choices for culinary use.
Growth and
Cultivation
-
All
basils are tender annuals which are easy to grow, but are very
susceptible to cold weather. They should be planted in late spring
after all danger of frost is past. To produce high quality basil,
grow it in full sun in warm, well-drained soil. Raised beds are
highly recommended because they promote good drainage and warm
quickly in the spring. A light sand to silt loam with a pH of 6.4 is
best.
-
For
fresh-cut basil production, the use of mulch is highly recommended.
Mulch conserves moisture, reduces weed growth, and keeps the basil
leaves clean. Highest yields have been obtained with black,
polyethylene mulch. Hardwood bark and straw also are good choices.
Antioxidant
Activity of Basil
-
Among
the essential oils extracted from the basil cultivars, the highest
antioxidant activity was found in the Sweet basil essential oils,
with significantly lower activity observed in the essential oils
from ‘Dark Opal’ and ‘Osmin purple’, and much lower activity
in the ‘Lemon’, ‘Purple Ruffles’, Italian Large Leaf’, ‘Cinnamon’,
and ‘Holy Basil’ oils.
-
In
all basils, the essential oil contribution to the total antioxidant
activity was low, varying from 0.05% in ‘Purples Ruffles’ to
5.9% in ‘Sweet’ basil (FRAP) and from 0.1% in ‘Purples Ruffles’
to 4% (ABTS) in ‘Sweet’ basil.
-
In
sweet basil, although the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic
extract was low, the activity of the oil itself was the highest, as
this oil contained the highest amount of eugenol relative to
all other samples. However, the contribution of this oil to the
antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract was around 5%, due to
the modest concentration of eugenol (18% relative to total essential
oil).
Applications
- Basil has been
known for many years as an herbal remedy for diseases of the brain,
heart, lungs, kidneys, and the bladder. It is primarily a digestive
and nervous system aid. Infuse basil and use it as a tea for
indigestion. Inhale basil tea to relieve cold symptoms. A tonic can
be made by steeping basil leaves in wine for several hours. Basil
has uplifting, energizing, anti-depressant properties.
- Use basil flowers
and leaves for an invigorating bath. Basil adds luster to hair:
brunettes, add it to a rosemary rinse, blondes, add it to a
chamomile rinse. Combine basil essential oil with other essential
oils to make perfumes and toilet water. Blends well with: Bergamot,
geranium, hyssop, neoili, marjoram, melissa and lavender.
Entrepreneur who want
the informations on General, Growth & cultivation, Species of Basil,
Cultivars of Basil, Essential oil information, Distillation of Basil,
Products of Basil, Chemical composition and characteristics of Basil
can E-Mail us to
informer@eth.net,
primaryinfo@gmail.com
|
General, Growth
and Cultivation, Species, Distillation of basil oil, Chemical
