title: Essential-Oil Variability in a Collection of Ocimum basilicum L. (Basil) Cultivars.
abstract: Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant of great tradition in the Mediterranean area. Its economic importance is growing up determining an expansion of cultivation. This paper evaluated the morphological traits, the chemical profiles, and antibacterial activity of 21 cultivars of basil belonging to 'Genovese', 'Napoletano', and 'Purple basil' types. The cultivars were characterized by different growth rate and morphological traits. The chemical composition of the oils analyzed by GC and GC/MS analysis, supported by the PCA analysis, underlined the strong influence of chemotype. It is noteworthy that estragole, never present in Genovese and purple basil types, occurred in Napoletano type. The high presence of eugenol, methyl eugenol, and linalool in the majority of cultivars, belonging both to Genovese and to Napoletano types was registered. Of great interest resulted the composition of the purple basil 'Opal'. All the samples tested exhibited similar antibiotic profiles with moderate antibacterial activity. The results enhanced the importance of determination of essential-oil profile in the selection of cultivars characterized by diverse morphological traits and are useful for different purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Parco d'Orleans II, IT-90128, Palermo. antonella.maggio@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, IT-84084, Fisciano, Salerno. roscignograziana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Graziana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roscigno
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Parco d'Orleans II, IT-90128, Palermo. maurizio.bruno@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, IT-84084, Fisciano, Salerno. edefalco@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via D. Montesano 49, IT-80131, Naples. fesenato@unina.it.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Senatore
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: Antibacterial activities; Biomorphological characteristics; Essential-oil constituents; Ocimum basilicum L.; PCA analysis