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Basil

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Antioxidant Properties of Spices, Herbs and Other Sources

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Abstract

Basil is a robust aromatic annual plant and is widely cultivated throughout Europe. This chapter describes the botany, history, producing regions, flavor and aroma, parts used, and active constituents. The chapter also highlights the uses of basil in different recipes around the world. It is one of the ingredients in the liqueur Chartreuse. Basil has been reported to have digestive, antifungal, antibacterial, antimelanoma, radioprotective, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, and antioxidant properties. Finally the medicinal uses, functional properties, and antioxidant properties of basil are discussed in great detail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Norway, IA, USA

    Denys J. Charles

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  1. Denys J. Charles
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Charles, D.J. (2012). Basil. In: Antioxidant Properties of Spices, Herbs and Other Sources. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4310-0_11

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