Citral (neral + geranial) was the predominant volatile detected
in lemon basil and was abundant in the flower (64.5%) but was also
present in the branch (65%) and the leaf (42%) in significant quantities
and reached a peak in the full and post-flowering stages. trans
and cis-chrysanthemol were abundant in the branch and flower
and reached a peak in the post flowering stage. cis-3-Hexenyl
acetate occurred mainly in the flower, reaching a peak at the
post-flowering stage. The sesquiterpenes were present almost
exclusively in the branch and reached a peak at the full flowering
stage. Other notable aromatic volatiles were linalool, mainly, present
in the flowers (13%) and branches (11%) at the full and postflowering
stages and geranyl acetate occurring in the flower at
the post-flowering stage. Estragole was highest in pre-flowering
(15%) and much lower in full-flower and post-flowering (2% and
0.4%, respectively). Monoterpene hydrocarbons were at their highest
levels in the branch but also occurred in the leaf and flower and
reached a peak at the full and post flowering stages