Ocimum gratissimum contains citral a monterpene alkaloid. There was an increased incidence in malignant lymphomas in female mice, but not in rats or male mice. No definite evidence of genotoxicity found though 'positive results in sister chromatid exchange assay.' Ocimum basilicum contains estragole and safrole, alkylbenzenes, which are carcinogenic and genotoxic in rodents