ABSTRACT
Sweet basil oil is the essential oil obtained from the flowering aerial tops of the basil, Ocimum basilicum L. Ocimum basilicum L. is an aromatic, erect, almost glabrous annual herb, which grows to between 0.3 and 0.5 meters. The plant is native to India, Iran and tropical Asia, and now grows wild in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is cultivated for commercial use in many countries around the world, including France, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, Indonesia and several states in the United States of America (USA). The herb is widely used in systems of traditional medicine, including Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. The essential oil, which may be obtained from the leaves, the aerial parts or the flowering tops, is used to flavor various food products such as confectionery, baked goods, ice creams, puddings, liquors and non-alcoholic beverages.
