SECONDARY METABOLITES OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Ocimum gratissimum synthesizes and accumulates a variety of secondary metabolites. Some of the biologically active secondary metabolites such as eugenol, thymol, methyl cinnamate and geraniol are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the well-known plant of this species and substantiate the claim in traditional system of medicine. The present review summarizes the information available on the secondary metabolites isolated from Ocimum gratissimum.