The aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum L. were collected from four different geographical locations, Sindhuli and Biratnagar (Nepal), Chormaghzak village (Tajikistan), and Sana'a (Yemen). The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A cluster analysis of 179 essential oil compositions revealed six major chemotypes: Linalool, eugenol, estragole, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and geraniol. All four of the basil oils in this study were of the linalool-rich variety. Some of the basil oils were screened for bioactivity including antimicrobial, cytotoxicity in human cancer cells, brine shrimp lethality, nematicidal, larvicidal, insecticidal, and antioxidant. The basil oils in this study were not notably antibacterial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, nor nematicidal, but were active in the brine shrimp lethality test, and did show larvicidal and insecticidal activities.
Eggshell contamination threatens the viability of hatching eggs. This contamination can be caused by harmless, opportunistic, or pathogenic bacteria. Although necessary, the use of synthetic antibiotics to treat eggshells can present several significant problems: They can be toxic and damage the shell, and, most worryingly, they can lead to bacterial resistance.
The aim of this research is to examine the effects of drying purple basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum L.) under different drying conditions (freeze drying, sun-drying, and convective drying [CD] at 45, 50, and 55°C and microwave drying at 350, 460, and 600 W) on color properties, total phenolic and anthocyanin content, antioxidant activities, and changes in the composition of volatile compounds and essential oils (EOs). Increasing the drying temperature and microwave power led to an improvement in the preservation of the total phenolic content of the samples by an average of 16.
The rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae is one of the primary insects that infest stored grains, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses. The use of synthetic pesticides to control it has led to the emergence of several problems related to human health and the environment, which has prompted the search for safer alternatives for their control. In this study, the effectiveness of two essential oils, cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and basil (Ocimum basilicum), was evaluated as insecticides for controlling the rice weevil at three different times intervals and various concentrations.
Plants, as sessile organisms, must adapt to environmental changes and defend themselves against biotic stress, including pathogen attack. Their immune responses entail recognition of pathogen patterns, activation of defense mechanisms, and accumulation of various antimicrobial compounds. Eugenol, abundant in basil, has antibacterial properties and enhances plant resistance to viruses.
The study evaluated the larvicidal and reproductive effects of essential oils from Ocimum basilicum, Perilla frutescens, and Mentha spicata on engorged female Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Adult immersion and larval packet assays were used to evaluate their larvicidal efficacy and impact on tick reproductive abilities. For tick larvae, Perilla frutescens essential oil had the highest 50% lethal dose of 1.
