ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Basil herb (O.basilicum L.) contains 0.5-1.5% essential oil of varying composition, about 5% tannins and p-sitosterol. Basil seeds contain planteose, mucilage, polysaccharides and fixed oil that consists of linoleic acid (50%), linolenic acid (22%), oleic acid (15%) as well as 8% unsaturated fatty acids. Basil leaves also contain 0.17% oleanolic acid and a small amount of ursolic acid (List and Hörhammer 1977). Also the leaves and flowers of O.canum Sims, contain oleanolic and ursolic acids (Xaasan et al., 1980).
