Ocimum gratissimum
Species of basil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ocimum gratissimum, also known as African basil,[2] clove basil, East Indian basil, Russian basil, shrubby basil, tree basil,[3] and in Hawaii as wild basil,[4] is a species of basil. It is native to Africa (including Madagascar) and southern Asia and introduced to Mexico, Panama, the West Indies, Brazil, Bolivia and the Pacific.[1]
| African basil | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Hawaii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Ocimum |
| Species: | O. gratissimum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ocimum gratissimum | |
Uses
In Nigeria, scent leaves are used in making pepper soup, local rice, beans, plantains, even regular soup, and other delicacies.
Seed germination
Seeds seem to need strong sunlight to germinate, although germination has been achieved even during an average UK summer.[5]
Phytochemical compounds
The phytochemicals present in Ocimum gratissimum are polyphenols such as gallic acid, rosmanol, rosmarinic acid, flavonoids such as nepetrin, quercetin, rutin, catechin, and also alkaloids and terpenoids. Also present are naringin, uteolin, nepetoidin, nevadensin, hymenoxin, salvigenin, apigenin, apigenin-7,4',-dimethyl ether, basilimoside, 2-alpha,3-beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, methyl acetate, and oleanolic acid.[6]
Pharmacology of extracts and essential oils
Insect repellent
Ocimum gratissimum repels the thrips Thrips tabaci, and so is a useful insect repellent in other crops.[13]