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Basil quaqua7/5/2023 In terms of chemistry, a relative of estragole has an interesting magic trick up its sleeve. In fact, the name “estragole” comes from the French name for tarragon, estragon. Estragole is a relatively small carbon-based molecule used in perfumes, and it can be found not just in basil but in fennel, pine oil, and tarragon. Taking a peep at the main aromatic compounds found in basil is in itself a tasty lesson in chemistry.īasil contains estragole, also known as methyl chavicol. The smell and taste we associate with basil come from a number of essential oil molecules that, depending on the species, the cultivar, and the growing conditions, will be present in different quantities in the leaves. They are called “essential” not because they are vital to either the plant or us, but because they are said to contain the essence of the plant. There are many types of secondary compounds, one of them being the essential oils, these aromatic, oil-loving molecules that evaporate easily at room temperature and titillate our olfactory receptors. Salicylic acid gave us pain relief, caffeine made us more alert, and cocaine gave us Al Pacino’s classic line, “Say hello to my little friend.” The usefulness of these secondary compounds is not limited to the plants themselves humans have also learned to put them to good (and sometimes less good) use. Some will attract pollinators, like bees, while others will repel predators by making the plant bitter to the taste or poisonous. But other substances-often products of the plant’s metabolism-are not vital and they end up accumulating in plant tissues. Plants require essential substances like water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in order to survive. To unpack where all of basil’s delicious aromas come from, we have to talk about secondary compounds. A Thai variety has a spicy hint of licorice, while lemon and lime basil add a citrusy flavour to meals. ![]() ![]() Perhaps the best known is sweet basil, common to the Mediterranean region. ![]() There are many varieties of basil in existence. The name “basil” comes from the Greek basilikon, meaning “royal (plant),” itself derived from basileus, meaning “king.” This regal name is thought to have its origin in the belief that basil was used in the making of royal perfumes. This belief in transmutation has not held up to our expanded knowledge of the world, but there is still something magical and awe-inspiring when we look at the chemistry of the basil plant. Sir Francis Bacon, an important figure in the development of the scientific method, claimed in his work on natural history that when a basil plant was exposed too much to the sun, it became wild thyme.
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