CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF AFRICAN BLUE BASIL (Ocimum KilimandscharicumGuerke) AS A PYRETHRUMSYNERGIST

Abstract

Concern on quality and safety of life in managing mosquitoes, has shifted steadily from the use of conventional chemicalstowardsalternative botanicalinsecticidesthataretarget-specific,biodegradableandenvironmentallysafe. Pyrethrins are natural plant compounds used in commercial vector control. They are usually formulated with synergists to improve quality, increase efficacy, mitigate resistance and make them cost effective. This discovery of insecticidal synergists initiated the use of insecticide synergist, Piperonylbutoxide(PBO), which is obtained from Safrole a main component of sassafras. Ocimumkilimandscharicumof the family Lamiaceae, commonly known as African Blue Basil and ‘okita’ in native Luo language, is a perennial, under shrub with simple ovate-oblong leaves. Earlier findings showed that the plant consists of linalool, camphor and 1,8-cineole. Literature review revealed no report available on the chemical composition of the essential oil and its economic importance fromKenya. In lightof this observation, this article presents identified essential oil composition from the leaves ofkilimandscharicumcollected from the Kipkaren in Nandi county(Kenya), as alternative recipe that can be used as pyrethrum synergist. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation of the leaves of kilimandscharicum, and then analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Seventeen constituents were identified, most of which were mainly phenylpropane and their derivatives. Most of whose functional group is methylenedioxyphenyl which form the binding site for the insecticide during the reaction of insecticide against insects. The findings of this research could enable further exploration for large scale production and exploitation of the biological synergists for commercial application; which could go along revitalizing agriculture and environment. Biological products are biodegradable as opposed to convectional pyrethrum synergist, PBO currently being used by the Pyrethrum Boardof Kenya. Further research to identify the active component of the seventeen constituents is inevitable.