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Basil (estragole CT)

Húng quế

Ocimum basilicum

Exotic basil, Comoros basil, Reunion basil

Lamiaceae · Lá · Leaves · Steam-distilled

Botanical illustration of Ocimum basilicum, whose leaves yield Basil (estragole CT) essential oil
Basil (estragole CT) essential oil, extracted from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum. Botanical illustration, Lê Mai Library.

Safety

Potentially carcinogenic · Restricted

The estragole chemotype of basil contains a high level of estragole, a rodent carcinogen at sufficiently high oral exposure.

Should not be taken orally. Possible interaction with drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.

Maximum dermal use level 0.02 percent based on 87.4 percent estragole content and a dermal limit of 0.01 percent for estragole.

Methyleugenol may be present up to 4.2 percent, another carcinogen requiring strict limits.


Usage guidelines

Maximum dermal level
0.02 percent
Oral use
Not recommended
Basis
Estragole 73.4, 87.4 percent
Drug interactions
Theoretical, via CYP2B6

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
Estragole73.4 – 87.4 %
Linalooltr, 8.6 %
1,8-Cineole0.6 – 6.0 %
β-Caryophyllenetr, 4.0 %
(+)-Limonene0.1 – 3.0 %
Methyleugenol0 – 4.2 %
(E)-β-Ocimene0 – 2.2 %
Terpinen-4-ol0 – 2.2 %
Eugenoltr, 1.2 %
Camphortr, 1.0 %

Botanical source

Ocimum basilicum is an aromatic annual herb of tropical Asian and African origin.

The estragole chemotype is produced largely in the Comoros, Réunion and parts of Madagascar, often marketed as 'exotic basil' or 'Réunion basil'.

Other chemotypes of Ocimum basilicum (linalool, methyl cinnamate) carry distinct chemistry and safety profiles. The certificate of analysis must be read before use.


Notes

This chemotype dominates commercial basil oil. The name 'sweet basil' is often misapplied, culinary sweet basil in Europe is typically the linalool CT, not the estragole CT.