Biochemical Features of Ocimum canum Sims Grown in Ukrainian Southern Steppe Conditions

Abstract

Ocimum canum Sims is an aromatic, essential oil, and medicinal plant. Although this species is not as well studied as other members of the genus, such as Ocimum basilicum, there is evidence of high biological activity of extracts and use for certain diseases. The essential oil composition, according to previous data, is valuable but depends on numerous factors. This study aimed to evaluate economically valuable features of O. canum f. 17-35 in the flowering stage grown in the South of Ukraine (Kherson Oblast). Plants were investigated for morphometric features such as plant height (cm), plant diameter (cm), length and width of leaves (in cm), inflorescence length (cm), the number of shoots (first and second order), inflorescences (per plant), and described the colour of shoots, lamina, and flowers. The essential oil was obtained by the hydrodistillation method (Ginsberg’s method) on the Clevenger apparatus. The study of the component composition of the essential oil was carried out by the high-performance gas-liquid chromatography method. It was found the average values of plant height (55.17 cm), plant diameter (44.6 cm), leaf length (6.98 cm), leaf width (4.1 cm), inflorescence length (26.55 cm), inflorescence number (82.43), shoot number of first order (9.88), and shoot number of second order (5.73). The 43 compounds were determined in the essential oil, and 41 were identified. The main components of the O. canum f. 17-35 essential oil of this sample are linalool (58.99%), methyl chavicol (10.66%), epi-α-cadinol (5.14%), eugenol (4.71%), and geraniol (4.35%) Thus, the obtained data concerning the O. canum showed differences in essential oil content and selected morphometrical parameters of plants. Also, the essential oil of O. canum f. 17-35 contains the principal chemicals that can be used in further pharmacological investigations, cosmetic, and food industries