Antifungal, physicochemical, and insect-repelling activity of the essential oil of Ocimum basilicum

Abstract

The essential oil of Ocimum basilicum at a dose of 1.5 mL/L completely inhibited the mycelial growth of 22 species of fungi, including the mycotoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. It also proved to repel the insect Allacophora foveicollis. The toxic dose of the oil against the test fungi was much lower than that of some commercial fungicides and fumigants, and it remains unaffected by temperature treatment, storage, and increased inoculum.