Storage conditions ofOcimum gratissimumL. leaves influence the quality of essential oil

The quality and content of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants can be affected by storage conditions. The present work evaluated the influence of different storage conditions of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on essential oils. The study was conducted in two environments (controlled and natural), in two types of packaging (plastic and paper) during five storage times (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months). Also evaluated was the damage caused to the glandular trichomes and the fungal contamination of the stored leaves. For this data set, the study was done using multivariate exploratory analysis PCA, HCA and K-means. Among the environments, the use of paper storage in a natural environment presented a reduction of up to 74.3% in essential oil content and greater damage to the trichomes. The plastic packaging prevented the proliferation of fungi. The best storage condition proved to be a controlled environment from 6 months to 9 months in plastic packaging.