Proximate biochemical composition of seed Ocimum gratissimum (Wild Basil)

Department of Chemical Technology, University College of Science & Technology, University of Calcutta, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata-700 009, India E-mail : mahuag@gmail.com, mgchemtech@caluniv.ac.in Fax : 91-33-23519755 Manuscript received online 22 May 2013, revised 05 July 2013, accepted 07 July 2013 The proximate physicochemical properties and chemical composition of Wild Basil seeds, along with amino acid composition and content was investigated. The compositions of the fatty acids of the extracted oil were also determined. The proximate analysis of Wild Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) seeds showed the following composition : oil (9.69%), protein (9.58%), moisture (8.62%), ash (0.25%), total dietary fiber (39.82%) and total carbohydrates (71.58%). The fatty acid profile of the oil showed respectively three saturated fatty acids (C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C20 : 0), one monounsaturated fatty acid (C18 : 1) and two polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18 : 2, C18 : 3). Linoleic acid (76.14%) was the major unsaturated fatty acid while palmitic acid was the main saturated one (8.53%). The amounts of amino acids were also determined by HPLC. The analysis of these characteristics showed interesting application potential for food industry