Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

The taxonomy and nomenclature of Ocimum are in the state of confusion where species and cultivar identification still hampered by large number of species belonging for this genus. DNA barcoding using core barcodes and leaves essential oil (EO) composition of local and recently introduced Ocimum sp. are examined and in comparison in this study. The core barcodes of matK, rbcLa were sequenced for each species in parallel with Leaf EO composition analyses using GC&GC-MS of five sweet basils ( Ocimum basilicum ). Antioxidant activities (AA) using both of 2,2?-diphenypicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-Carotene- linoleic acid assays were examined for EOs. Main EOs constituent were methyl cinnamate 43.78% in O. basilicum L., chavicol methyl ether (39.11%) in O. b. purple ruffle, linalool (30.9%) in O. b. genovese, chavicol methyl ether (32.27%) in O. b. anise, linalool (30.58%) in O. b. bush green. All examined accessions were classified into chemotypes easily using their Eos. In the other hand, barcoding using core barcodes showed no variation among all species in both markers except for O. americanum which varied in single base pair in matK . We concluded that chemotype still favored over barcoding in species identification and the search for a better barcodes should continue.

Biography

Hosam O Elansary is a Ph.D. graduate of Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague (top200). He is interested in biochemistry and molecular markers. He is a Current visiting faculty at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario working on animal and plant barcodes in relation to biochemical markers, First author publication of over 200 submissions in Genbank and the ambassador of the Society of Experimental Biology (located in London) in Egypt (2011-onwards). Participated as either PI or Co-PI in some projects in Egypt and bilateral projects between Egypt and the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario. He is an Editorial board member of several agricultural and biology journals. He established Egyptian barcode of life project in Egypt ?www.egyptbol.org?.