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Basil (pungent)

Húng quế cay

Ocimum gratissimum

Shrubby basil, Tree basil, Russian basil, East Indian basil, Clocimum

Lamiaceae · Lá · Leaves · Steam-distilled

Botanical illustration of Ocimum gratissimum; leaves used to extract Basil (pungent) essential oil
Basil (pungent) essential oil, extracted from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum. Botanical illustration, Lê Mai Library.

Safety

Skin sensitization · Drug interaction

May contain estragole and methyleugenol. May inhibit blood clotting due to high eugenol.

Low to moderate risk of skin and mucous membrane sensitization.

Oral: avoid with pethidine, MAOIs, SSRIs, anticoagulants. Avoid before major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, low blood pressure.

Maximum adult oral dose 159 mg daily. Maximum dermal use level 0.9 percent, based on 56.2 percent eugenol and a dermal limit of 0.5 percent.

Methyleugenol present at 0.4 percent, a carcinogen requiring strict limits.


Usage guidelines

Maximum dermal level
0.9 percent
Max adult oral dose
159 mg daily
Basis
Eugenol 62.9 percent
Drug interactions
Anticoagulants, pethidine, MAOIs, SSRIs

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
Eugenol62.9 %
(E)-β-Ocimene20.6 %
Isoeugenol2.4 %
β-Caryophyllene1.3 %
Methyleugenol0.4 %
Estragole0.2 %

Botanical source

The eugenol chemotype of Ocimum gratissimum, produced almost exclusively in India. A hybrid strain containing 85 – 90 percent eugenol, called clocimum oil, was developed by the Regional Research Laboratory in Jammu.

The same species in the estragole/camphor chemotype is Madagascan basil, produced in Madagascar.

Other chemotypes rich in geraniol, thymol, p-cymene, or ethyl cinnamate exist but are not produced commercially.


Notes

The name 'clocimum' is short for 'clove-scented ocimum'.