Estragole basil

Estragole (basil) R-(-)-Carvone (spearmint) S-(+)-Carvone (caraway)... 

In the case of sweet basil, Ocimwn basilicum, Charabot and Hubert have examined the essential oils distilled from plants which had been cultivated in full light and from those kept shaded from the light. Jn the former case the oil contained 57 3 per cent, of estragol and 42 7 per cent, of terpene compounds, whilst in the case of the shaded plants the estragol had risen tO 74 2per cent, and the terpene compounds fell to 25 8 per cent. 

Basil oil, methylchavicol-type (Reunion type, exotic type) is obtained by steam distillation of the flowering tops or whole plants of Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae). This oil is produced mainly in Reunion, the Comores, Madagascar, and the Seychelles. It is a light yellow liquid with a fresh, green, spicy odor characteristic of methylchavicol (estragole) [140-67-0]. 

Basil (Euro- Ocimum basilicum L. Linalool (45-62), estragol... 

Basil (Reunion type) Ocimum basilicum L. Estragol (methyl chavicol) (75-87), linalool (0.5-3)... 

Estragole is found in essential oils of basil, fennel, chervil, ravensara and tarragon. Although it is not restricted by any regulatory agencies, there is evidence of potential carcinogenic properties in high doses, (see Fig. 3.7)... 

In basil oil, methyl chavicol (also called estragole), a phenolic ether (p. 60), is considered to be a dermal irritant and to be carcinogenic. Linalool has an almost identical molecular formula but is a long chain rather than a benzene ring (p. 55) and is considered much safer. 

Basil essential oil contains the compound methyl chavicol (also called estragole) which has been a cause for concern. However, this should be viewed in the context of good safe aromatherapy practice. 

LEW1NSOHN, E., ZIV-RAZ, I., DUDAI, N., TADMOR, Y LASTOCHKIN, E., LARKOV, O., CHAIMOVITSH, D RAVID, U PUTIEVSKY, E PICHERSKY, E., SHOHAM, Y., Biosynthesis of estragole and methyl-eugenol in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L). Developmental and chemotypic association of allylphenol O-methyltransferase activities., Plant Sci., 2000,160,27-35. 

Oil of Basil. Volatile oil from leaves of Ocimum basiUcum L., Labiatae (sweet basil). Constit. Methylchavi. col. eucalyptol, linalool, estragol. 

The 4-methoxy pattern. The pivotal essential oil is 4-allylanisole, or methyl chavicol, or estragole (called esdragol in the old literature). This allyl compound is found in turpentine, anise, fennel, bay, tarragon, and basil. Its smell is light, and reminiscent of fennel. The propenyl analogue is called anethole, or anise camphor, and it is found in both anise and camphor. It is a... 

Oxygenation in the position of cinnamic acid followed by methylation of the phenol and reduc tion of the acid to alcohol with subsequent elimination of the alcohol gives estragole (also known as methyl chavicol (52) and anethole (53)). Estragole is found in a variety of oils, mostly herb oils such as basil, tarragon, chervil, fennel, clary sage, anise, and rosemary. Anethole occurs in both the (E)- and (Z)-forms, the more thermodynamically stable (B)-isomer (shown in Figure 6.10) is... 

Basil (European type) Ocimum basilicum Linalool (45-62%), estragol (0-30%), eugenol (2-15%)... 

The Olefinic Substrates The highly iso-regioselective hydroformylation of allyl- or propenylarenes (phenylpropanoids) gives aldehydes with numerous applications in flavors and perfumes. Several 2-aryl-prop-1-enes required as substrates can be extracted from natural sources in a rather pure form (Figure 6.8). For example, eugenol, with its typical spicy, clove like aroma, can be isolated from clove oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil, and bay leaf. Safrol (shikimol) is isolated from sassafras plants and has a typical sweet-shop aroma. Estragole (methyl chavicol) is produced from basil oil and chavicol from betel oil. 

Foods may contain a number of alkyl aryl ethers that are components of essential oils of different spices as well as secondary substances. These ethers are most often derived from anisole (methoxybenzene, 8-33) or veratrole (1,2-dimethoxybenzene, 8-33), which are substituted by a prop-l-en-yl or l-prop-2-en-l-yl (allyl) group at the C-4 position of the benzene ring. An important ether is estragole (also known as 4-aUylanisole or methyl chavicol, 8-33), which is the main component (over 80%) of basil essential oil (see Table 8.32, later) and tarragon (dragon s wort) essential oil... 

The oil from the lettuce-leaved basil (var. album) gives a slightly cloudy solution with 70 per cent, alcohol all the other oils give clear solutions when mixed with from 2 to 3 times their volume and more of 70 per cent, alcohol. The methylchavicol (estragol) content of all the oils (acertained by the determination of the methoxyl-group) was about 55 per cent. 

Basil oil Ocimum basilicum Herb SD Linalool, estragol, eugenol... 

Steam distillation of Mexican avocado leaves yielded 3.1% of an essential oil consisting of 95% estragole (see sweet basil for toxicity) and 5% anethole. The fruit peel contains /-epicatechin. " ... 

Sweet basil oil is reported to be nontoxic/ Estragole, a major component in some sweet basil oils, has been shown to produce tumors (hepatocellular carcinomas) in mice and genotoxicity. The Council of Europe currently recommends that the level of estragole in food products should not exceed... 

Estragole, the major component of the volatile oil, has been reported to produce tumors in mice (see sweet basil). 

A sample of the herb basil was extracted with a solvent. The extract was then injected into the GC, which had a 50 m capillary column with a methyl silicone coating maintained at 40°C. The chromatogram showed 7 major peaks and over 20 minor peaks. Each major peak gave a good IR sf>ectrum, and these were identified as eucalyptol, estragol, eugenol, and linalool, plus various terpenes and cinnamates. Many of the minor components were also identified. 

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