ABSTRACT
Basil is one of the most popular herbs grown in the world. The name basil is thought to be derived from the Greek words okimon and basilikon. Basil oil is the oil obtained from basil through different conventional, nonconventional, or novel techniques having major constituents such as linalool, methyl chavicol, methyl cinnamate, eugenol, and cineole. Sweet basil is indigenous to Persia and Sindh and the lower hills of Punjab in India. Sweet basil is an autogamous, aromatic, and herbaceous plant that is annual and perennial. Lawrence classified basil oil into three large groups, European type, exotic or Reunion type, and African type, according to their chemical composition and geographical origin. A substantial number of studies conducted on the composition of essential oil of basil revealed a huge diversity in constituents with different chemotypes from many regions of the world.
