Humic substances from green compost increase bioactivity and antibacterial properties of essential oils in Basil leaves

Abstract Background The Essential oils (EOs) are important bioactive secondary metabolites of aromatic plants, such as Basil, and find extensive utilization in pharmaceutical sector therapeutic agents. A more eco-friendly industrial production EOs requires new sustainable methods to improve yield quality these compounds plants. Here, we evaluated the biostimulation effects natural organic materials, humic substances (HS) extracted from a humified green compost made with artichoke biomasses. Results molecular characteristics HS were determined by 13 C-CPMAS NMR spectroscopy offline pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry combined bioactivity extracts investigate structural–activity relationship. Basil plants grown under treatments at different concentrations yield, chemical composition antioxidant antimicrobial properties for steam distillation method leaves. showed positive effect on total extraction most EO components, progressive enhancement abundance eugenol, eucalyptol geranyl acetate increasing concentrations. Humic influenced proprieties, well their activity against some common Gram-negative bacterial strains Klebsiella pneumoniae. was associated structural hydrophobic that may have favoured interactions rhizome specific lignin-derived phenols polar saccharidic aminoacidic compounds. Conclusions Our results support potential use promising effective biostimulants Graphic