Total antioxidant capacity (TAC, assayed by FRAP method) of three basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars subjected to chilling stress ( 10°C) and at the recovery stage was studied. To estimate the influence of temperature on the conditions of plants, the biométrie parameters and leaf water content were measured. It was established that chill does not influence significantly growth of basil plants and leaf water content, but decreases TAC of leaves of 'Sweet Green Genovese' and 'Kasia' cvs. plants. Plants of Polish cultivars 'Kasia' and 'Wala' have a bigger biomass production by individual plant than the Dutch cultivar 'Sweet Green Genovese'. C. var. 'Wala' has the biggest productivity. However, TAC of its leaves is the lowest, whereas 'Sweet Green Genovese' c.var. plants give low biomass, but of high reducing capacity.