VARIATION IN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MINERALS OF BASIL (Ocimum gratissimum L.)
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Benin, Benin City. Proximate analysis was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture laboratory to determine the nutritional components of ocicum gratissimum. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Each block was divided into twenty-three rows with 0.6m between the rows. Four Ocimum gratissimum varieties were evaluated: G040220, G040221, G270114 and G250119. The variables measured for this study include: moisture content, ash content, crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate content and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, Iron and potassium. These variables were measured using their percentage composition. It was observed that there were significant differences among the varieties studied. Variety G040220 had the highest MC value and it is comparable to G040221 but significantly different from the others. Variety G040221 and G040220 had the highest crude fibre percentage values and were significantly different the others. Variety G250109 having higher crude protein indicates that it was improved to absorb more nitrogen from the soil. Variety G250109 was also observed to have higher carbohydrate and fat content. Therefore, it is recommended for farmers for higher nutritional performance.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Ocimum L. is a member of the labiatae family. The typical characteristics of this family are square stem, opposite and decussate leaves with many gland dots. The flowers are strongly zygormorphic with two distinct lips. Many of the family, particularly subfamily Neptoideas to which ocimum belongs, are strongly aromatic due to essential oils which consist of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenylpropanoids.
Ocimum unlike other economically important herbs in the labiatae such as Rosmarinus, thymus and salvia, belongs to tribe ocimae which has declinate stamens.that is stamens lie over the lower[anterior]lip of the corolla rather than ascending under the upper [posterior]lip.
Ocimum was best described by Linnaeus in 1753 who listed five[5] species .Bentham[1832]recognised just under 40 species and divided ocimum into three[3]sections .ocimum [ocymodon benth] with appendiculate posterior stamens;Hierocymum benth with hairs at the base of the posterior stamens and gynmnocium benth with glabrous posterior stamens.The latter two sections contained a few species which are now placed in EndostemonN.E.BR, a genus bentham didn’t recognise or hemizygia. Bentham [1848] then subdivided section section ocimum [ocymodon] into three subsections on the basis of calyx morphology. In subset , ocimum [basilica sensu briquette 1897] the throat of the calyx is open and bearded in subsect. Gratissima the throat is closed by the median lobe of the lower lip,subsection hiantia benth, with truncate lateral calyx lobes, only included species which are sometimes placed in becium [Sebald 1988,1989,paton 1995].Bentham[1848] also added sect ,hemizygia benth. Which briquette [1897] considered to be a separate genus on account of the fused anterior stamens.