Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Records of Natural Products, cilt.19, sa.6, ss.688-701, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study investigates the phytochemical variations among 34 cultivars of Ocimum basilicum to evaluate their essential oil composition and identify chemotaxonomic patterns. Understanding this variation is important for cultivar authentication, selection, and potential industrial or pharmacological applications. Essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). To assess chemical variation and group cultivars based on their volatile profiles, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied. A total of 48 volatile compounds were identified across the cultivars. Linalool was the most abundant constituent, dominating in 28 cultivars with concentrations ranging from 24.2% to 81.1%. Methyl chavicol exhibited strikingly high levels in certain cultivars, reaching up to 82.0% in some samples. Cluster analysis revealed two major chemotype clades, with chemical similarity indices ranging from −33.07% to 90.84%, indicating substantial intra-specific variation and the potential for clear chemotaxonomic discrimination. The essential oil composition of O. basilicum cultivars exhibited marked variability, supporting classification based on chemotypic profiles. These findings enhance the understanding of chemotaxonomy within the genus and provide practical insights for cultivar selection in medicinal, aromatic, and commercial applications.