Fatty acid variation in seed oil among Ocimum species

Content, fatty acid composition, and glyceride profile of oil from seeds of seven basil (Ocimum sp.) chemotypes were determined. The species studied included O. basilicum, O. canum, O. gratissimum, and O. sanctum. The oil content ranged from 18 to 26%, with triglycerides comprising between 94 and 98% of extracted neutral lipids, The major acylated fatty acids were linolenic (43.8-64.8%), linoleic (17.8-31.3%), oleic (8.5-13.3%), and palmitic acid (6.1-11.0%). Linolenic acid was similar among the four O. basilicum chemotypes (57-62%), highest in O. canum (65%), and lowest in O. sanctum (44%). Basil seed oil appears suitable as an edible oil or can be used for industrial purposes, and could be processed in the same way as linseed oil. Preliminary calculations estimate that a hectare of basil could produce from 300 to 400 kg of seed oil.