Bioprospecting of Five Ocimum sp. Cultivars from Croatia: New Potential for Dietary and Dermatological Application with Embryotoxicity Tests

Ocimum basilicum L. is the most common species, and it used as an ornamental plant in food condiments. This unique study examined chemical composition biological activities of six extracts from five basil cultivars, including their antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antilipidemic, neuroprotective, anticollagenase activity. Moreover, toxicological effects were studied using zebrafish Danio rerio. Volatile components determined HS-SPME GC-MS, while total polyphenols detected HPLC spectrophotometric Folin–Ciocalteu method. Spectrophotometric assays (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC, FRAP) performed to determine antioxidant activity, collagenase inhibition, acetylcholinesterase pancreatic lipase inhibition. Antimicrobial activity was broth microdilution test. The found that different cultivars varied depending on proportion active compounds, by analyses. All significantly inhibited α-amylase, Purple extract collagenase, acetylcholinesterase, lipase. Dark Opal I exhibited highest antimicrobial II had significant potential. findings this suggest ethanolic have potential be dietary drugs implemented antiaging products. its aims compare Croatia evaluate through embryotoxicity tests rerio embryos, reports first evidence anticollagenase, antilipidemic for these cultivars.