Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Essential Oil from Dried Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves
In this study, the extraction of essential oils from basil leaves by solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) was conducted. The effect of some parameters of SFME method on the basil oil yield was determined. The obtaining results were compared to those obtained via microwave hydrodistillation (MHD) method. It was shown that SFME method provides higher yield and faster extraction time. Using GC-MS analysis it was found that basil oil has the highest content of E-citral and Z-citral. The optimal operating conditions for the basil oil extraction were determined.