Author(s):

Jnanesha AC, Ashish Kumar and Vijaya Kumar M

Abstract: Essential oil extracted from different parts of the <em>Ocimumafricanum </em>Lour. and its chemical constituents affected by two seasons namely summer and winter growing variation were investigated. The hydro distilled essential oil content from different parts of the plant obtained from summer and winter season ranges from 0.2% to 0.6%. However, the highest essential oil content (0.3% to 0.6%) was recorded in summer and lowest oil content (0.2% to 0.3%) was recorded in winter season. The essential oil consists of Citral II is the most abundant component followed by Citral I. The highest amount of Citral I obtained from different parts of <em>O.africanumviz</em>., whole herb (42.5%), leaf (43.5%), stem (44.8 %) and inflorescence (39.9%) collected during summer was observed and Citral II was followed by Citral I (33.7%, 36.2%, 36.2% and 34.6% respectively). Whereas other essential oil components <em>viz.</em>, Citronellol, Linalool and geraniol content was higher in different parts of plant obtained during winter season compared to summer season and rest of the essential oil content were higher in summer season compared to winter season. Similarly, growth parameter viz., plant height (65.8 cm), number of branches (23), number of leaves (435 no.) and leaf area (14.68 m²) were also higher in summer season compared to winter season.

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