The basil herb, especially its aromatic leaves, possesses excellent
medicinal properties and therefore, it has been used in traditional
system of medicine as a tonic, vermifuge, diuretic, antispasmodic and
for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections[6-8]. Due to their
strong aroma, the leaves are also used as a fragrance and flavoring
agent for food, beverages, condiments and oral care products.
Essential oil of O. basilicum is of economic significance due to
its widespread utilization in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical
industries[9]. It is used as a folklore medicine to promote digestion,
to stimulate respiratory circulation, and to alleviate mental fatigue
and cold symptoms. It is also applied externally on the skin to treat
acne[10]. Many scientific studies have been conducted worldwide
to investigate the potential of basil essential oil in search of potent
antimicrobial agents[11,12].