Methyl-chavicol

Basil (Sweet Basil). Basil consists of the brown, dried leaves and tender stems of Ocimum basilicum L. (Labiatae), an aimual native to India, Africa, and Asia, and cultivated in Egypt, southern Erance, Morocco, the Mediteranean countries, and the United States. Basil is one of the oldest known herbs, and it is reported that there are perhaps 50—60 poorly defined Ocimum species which can only be identified according to their chemical components. The flavor of the basihcum type is warm, sweet, somewhat pungent, and pecuhar, ie, methyl chavicol and linalool. It is used with meats, fish, certain cheeses, and tomato-based salads. The fresh leaves are ground and known as pesto with pastas. It is the main component of the Hqueur Chartreuse. 

Many commercial grades of pine oil are available and are specified by physical properties and total alcohol content. Some commercial pine oils and the typical physical properties are Hsted in Table 4. Other grades of pine oil may constitute a blend of synthetic and natural pine oil and give the product a different odor characteristic. The odor difference is caused by the presence of phenoHc ethers anethole and methyl chavicol. 

It contains limoaene, ciiral, citronellal, cioeol, and a little thymol, aa well as other nndetermined phenolic constiments. Unlike other Indian basil oils, it contained no methyl-chavicol. 

Like most phenols, it gives an intense blue colour with solution of ferric chloride. By heating it with alcoholic potash and methyl iodide it is converted into methyl-chavicol or estragol, the characteristic constituent of tarragon oil. 

Estragol, or methyl-chavicol, Cj(,H,.,0, is a constituent of tarragon, anise-bark, bay, fennel, and other essential oils. It is a strongly odorous liquid having the following characters —... 

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

Tarragon Artemisia dracunulus Methyl chavicol Callus, suspension ND [73]... 

N.A. Anethole, methyl chavicol, safrole.100 Antibacterial, stimulant, diuretic and digestive properties, for rheumatism, back pain, hernias. 

A. dracunculus L. Estragole, phelandrine, methyl chavicol, iodine, rutin, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins." Diuretic, appetite stimulant. 

Methyl chavicol, frans-anethol, methyleugenol, eugenol, chavicol, vanillin... 

Approximately 45 constituents have been determined from fennel seed oil (Fig. 12.1), the main constituents being transanethole (60-65%, but up to 90%), fen-chone (2-20%), estragol (methyl chavicol), limonene, camphene, a-pinene and other monoterpenes, fenchyl alcohol and anisalde-hyde. The major compounds in supercritical... 

In summary, Foeniculum is stated to have three species, F. vulgare (fennel), F. azoricum Mill. (Florence fennel) and F. dulce (sweet fennel). Fennel is widely cultivated, both in its native habitat and elsewhere, for its edible, strongly flavoured leaves and seeds. The flavour is similar to, but milder than, that of anise and star anise. Anethole and fenchone are the major constituents of the solvent extract of seed phenols, free fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals have been reported in varying proportions. In the mature fruit, up to 95% of the essential oil is located in the fruit, greater amounts being found in the fully ripe fruit. Approximately 45 constituents have been determined from fennel seed oil, the main constituents being frans-anethole, fenchone, estragol (methyl chavicol), limonene, camphene, a-pinene and other monoterpenes, fenchyl alcohol and... 

Figure 3.7 Phenolic ether. Methyl chavicol (estragole) (C]0H]20). Courtesy of Spiring Enterprises Ltd.

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. 

The French or sweet basil has a high linalool and lower methyl chavicol content with the exotic basil having the highest methyl chavicol content. It is for this reason that the sweet is often preferred for aromatherapy. Principal chemical components found in essential oils of basil include methyl chavicol (22-88%), methyl eugenol (0.3-6%), linalool (1.1 6%), limonene (2.0 4.9%), cis-ocimene (0.2-2.6%) and citronellol (0.6-3.9%). Analysis for a sample of... 

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