Methyleugenol and eugenol variation in Ocimum basilicum cv. Genovese gigante grown in greenhouse and in vitro.

The variation of the two main aromatic compounds in Ocimum basilicum cv Genovese Gigante grown in greenhouse and "in vitro" was analyzed. The content of methyleugenol and eugenol was correlated to the plants' height rather than to the plants' age and the growth site. Particularly, methyleugenol was prevalent in plants up to 6.5 cm, as plants grew it was replaced by eugenol that was dominant in taller plants. Analysis of basil 20 cm in height showed that methyleugenol is prevalently localized in the low part while eugenol is prevalent in the upper part of the plant. Moreover, a chronic and acute toxicity of methyleugenol was evidentiated in an assay using chicken embryos.