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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426909
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Phytochemical Variations in Ocimum basilicum Cultivars: Essential Oil Composition and Multivariate Chemotype Differentiation

Author
item KIRCI, DAMLA - Izmir Institute Of Technology
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item BLYTHE, EUGENE - University Of California
item DEMIRCI, BETUL - Anadolu Universtiy

Submitted to: Records of Natural Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2025
Publication Date: 9/7/2025
Citation: Kirci, D., Tabanca, N., Blythe, E.K., Demirci, B. 2025. Phytochemical Variations in Ocimum basilicum Cultivars: Essential Oil Composition and Multivariate Chemotype Differentiation. Records of Natural Products. http://doi.org/10.25135/rnp.545.2507.3597.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25135/rnp.545.2507.3597

Interpretive Summary: Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the most popular type of basil cultivated in the U.S., with crops sold as fresh leaves, dried leaves, and essential oils. The market offers various basil oil chemotypes, which are different chemical compositions that give each cultivar a unique aroma. These aromas can range from lavender-like to cinnamon, lemon, licorice, rose-like, and clove-like. This research aimed to explore the phytochemical variations among 34 O. basilicum cultivars. Using cluster analysis, two main chemotype clades were identified: High Linalool Chemotype, which included 28 cultivars with linalool content ranging from 24% to 81%, and Methyl Chavicol Chemotype, which comprised 8 cultivars with methyl chavicol content varying from 10% to 70%. Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights into the aroma compounds and underlying phytochemistry of basil cultivars. This knowledge can help significantly in selecting the right basil cultivars for the flavor and aroma profile of horticultural crops and potential in various agricultural applications.

Technical Abstract: This study investigates the phytochemical variations among 34 cultivars of Ocimum basilicum to evaluate their essential oil composition and identify chemotaxonomic patterns. Understanding this variation is important for cultivar authentication, selection, and potential industrial or pharmacological applications. Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To assess chemical variation and group cultivars based on their volatile profiles, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied. A total of 48 volatile compounds were identified across the cultivars. Linalool was the most abundant constituent, dominating in 28 cultivars with concentrations ranging from 24.2% to 81.1%. Methyl chavicol exhibited strikingly high levels in certain cultivars, reaching up to 82.0% in some samples. Cluster analysis revealed two major chemotype clades, with chemical similarity indices ranging from 41.60% to 99.29%, highlighting considerable intra-specific variation and the potential for chemotaxonomic discrimination.The chemical composition of essential oils in O. basilicum cultivars shows considerable variability, allowing chemotype-based classification. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of chemotaxonomy within the genus and offer practical value for cultivar selection in medicinal, aromatic, and commercial applications.