The extracts obtained from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by
hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were qualitative
and quantitative analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Essential oil (EO) content of
basil sample, determined by an official method, was 0.565% (V/w). The yields
of basil obtained by SFE were from 0.719 to 1.483% (w/w), depending on the
supercritical fluid (carbon dioxide) density (from 0.378 to 0.929 g mL-1).
The dominant compounds detected in all investigated samples (EO obtained by
hydrodistillation and different SFE extracts) were: linalool, as the major
compound of basil EO (content from 10.14 to 49.79%, w/w), eugenol (from 3.74
to 9.78%) and ?-cardinene (from 3.94 to 8.07%). The quantitative results of
GC-MS from peak areas and by GC-FID using external standard method involving
main standards, were compared and discussed.