Cold Plasma Treatment of Hydroponically Grown Basil: Effects on Essential Oil Composition for Sustainable Applications (Ocimum Basilicum)

Abstract Essential oils are known to have medicinal benefits and pharmaceutical applications. This study investigates the impact of cold plasma treatment on hydroponically cultivated basil (Ocimum basilicum), focusing on physical growth traits, and essential oil composition. Preliminary trials validated our solvent extraction protocol using IPA, hexanes, and methanol without heat on store-bought basil. Rotary evaporation and GC-FID analysis successfully identified key compounds; eugenol, estragole, eucalyptol, and linalool. Plasma-treated hydroponic plants exhibited enhanced physical characteristics, including larger leaves and intensified green pigmentation, compared to untreated controls under identical conditions. The plasma treatment didn't just increase how much oil was extracted, but it increased the beneficial chemical compounds. Compounds like linalool and eucalyptol, which increased by 28.8% and 25.1%, are known for their antioxidant properties. This means the essential oil from the cold plasma-treated plants is not only more abundant but also functionally better. Other studies on basil and similar plants have reported the same effect. Ongoing GC-FID and GC-MS analysis of both groups aims to quantify plasma-induced changes in essential oil profiles, particularly antioxidant-linked compounds. These findings elucidate cold plasma’s role in modulating bioactive properties while promoting plant vigor, offering potential applications in sustainable agriculture and natural preservative development.