abstract ocimum tenuiflorum l.f. (syn. o. sanctum l.) (lamiaceae) is an indigenous ayurvedic medicinal plant of india and is popularly known as holy basil/sacred basil. oils obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves, stems, inflorescence and whole herb were analyzed by gc and gc/ms and retention indices. methyl eugenol was the major constituent of all the oils (72.5%, 75.3%, 83.7% and 65.2% in oils from whole herb, leaf, stem and inflorescence, respectively). -caryophyllene was the second most dominant constituent and the respective concentration in each oil (5.5%, 6.4%, 2.7% and 12.0%).