SUMMARY. — The effect of irrigation with saline water was studied in 45 and 60- day-old plants of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) of two different varieties (Genovese and Fine) cultivated in Tunisia. Comparison between control (Hoagland’s nutrient solution) and treated (50 mM NaCl) leaves included determination of total antioxidant activity and phenolic acids content. The salinity conditions affected the Fine variety to a lesser degree than the Genovese one. Indeed, the Fine variety was able to increase its antioxidant power also in saline conditions, while in the Genovese variety the total antioxidant power remained unchanged. In both varieties rosmarinic, gentisic and caffeic acids were the main phenolic acids.
Keywords: basil, antioxidant activity, phenolic acids, NaCl