摘要：Ocimum bacilicum is well known as a culinary herb, a rich source of nutrients and a folk remedy in alternativemedical therapy. Although many studies have been carried out to determine its nutritional components, it is wellknown that this varies across different species and also depends on geographical location and type of soil on whichthe plant is cultivated. The present study seeks to determine levels of Ca, Na, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg and Cu in leafextracts of Ocimum bacilicum leaves grown in Olupona, a suburb of Iwo, South-Western Nigeria. Plant leaveswere washed, dried, ground into powder and extracted using standard procedures. The extract was digested usingconcentrated HCl. Levels of Na and K in the extract was determined using a flame photometer while atomic absorptionspectrophotometer was used to determine the levels of the other minerals.Levels of Na and K found in the extract was 41.38 and 12.37 mg/ml respectively while those of Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, and Mnwere 60.88, 6.58, 5.35,1.14 and 0.88 mg/ml, respectively. Cu was not detectable in the sample. The study concludesthat the study plant contains very high levels of Ca and is also rich in other essential minerals.
