Composition of the essential oil of Ocimum sanctum L. grown in Poland during vegetation

The essential oils of the air-dried aerial parts of Ocimum sanctum L. (syn. O. tenuiflorum L.f.), harvested in four stages of vegetation, were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary GC, GC/MS, and H-1-NMR. The 57 compounds, representing 90-94% of the oil, were identified after oil distillation under reduced pressure and separation by repeated flash chromatography. The content of the main constituents: beta-bisabolene (13-20%) 1,8-cineole (9-33%) and methyl chavicol (2-12%) varied during development of the plant.