09. Biochemical potential and screening of bioactive components of Ocimum basilicum
Main Article Content
Abstract
Secondary metabolites and phytochemicals are abundantly found in plants with different remedial properties and pharmaceutical benefits with less or no harmful effects. In the history of mankind, Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) is reported to be used as antimicrobial, cardio tonic, and as a remedial agent to treat various symptoms of diabetes. As well as it is used as an anticancer agent. Sweet basil has medicinal potential of treating gastric disorders, relaxing blood vessels, healing wounds and different infections in humans. Current study was designed to analyze the biological capacity of essential oil and methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum leaves to assess the presence of some vital phytochemicals along with its therapeutic and biological potentials. Antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial and ant biofilm potential of basil was determined. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) techniques were followed to analyze some basic functional groups of crude basil powder and to screen some phenolic compounds. This study can be further helpful for pharmaceutical purpose to treat infectious and non-infectious diseases through the natural drug discovery.
Keywords: Antimicrobial; Flavonoids; Ocimum basilicum; Phenolics; Phytochemicals; Sweet basil