Boswellia species

To summarize, generally, the diterpenes of both investigated Boswellia species are suitable for marker substances. Figure 16.9 clearly demonstrates that for TLC... 

Basar, S., Phytochemical Investigations on Boswellia Species, Dissertation Hamburg, 2005. 

Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is obtained from trees belonging to the genus Boswellia (Burseraceae family). It is one of the best-known ancient plant resins. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use it as incense in embalming practices and in the preparation of medicines, cosmetics and perfumes, and today it is still used therapeutically. It contains pentacyclic triterpenoids belonging to oleanane, ursane or lupane type molecules and in particular of a- and p-boswellic acids, and their O-acetates [104 111], 11 -Oxo-p-boswellic acid and its acetyl derivative, identified in several Boswellia species, are also diagnostic for frankincense [112]. 

Various qualities are commercially available. Their compositions may vary considerably because they are prepared from the resins of different Boswellia species. Main constituents of the oil are monoterpene hydrocarbons [284a, 658-661a]. 

Olibanum Oil occurs as a pale yellow liquid with a balsamic odor with a faint lemon note. It is the volatile oil distilled from a gum obtained from the tree Boswellia carterii Birdw. and other Boswellia species (Fam. Burseraceae). It is soluble in most fixed oils and, with a slight haze, in mineral oil. It is insoluble in glycerin and in propylene glycol. 

Properties Distilled from a gum from the trees Bo-swellia carterii and other Boswellia species (Fam. Burseraceae). Pale liquid pleasant balsamic odor. D 0.862-0.889, refr index 1.465-1.482 20°. Sol in fixed oils, mineral oil insol in glycerin, propylene glycol. 

Frank, A., and M. Unger. 2006. Analysis of frankincense from various Boswellia species with inhibitory activity on human drug metabolising cytochrome P450 enzymes using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry after automated on-line extraction. /. Chromatogr. A 1112(l-2) 255-262. 

Gum thus n. Botanically, the oleoresin from trees of Boswellia species native to Arabia and Somaliland. As applied to the naval stores industry, the term refers to the crystallized pine oleoresin or scarpe collected from scarified faces of trees being worked for turpentine. Langenheim JH (2003) Plant resins chemistry, evolution ecology and ethnobotany. Timber Press, Portland,... 

Olibanum (frankincense) is one of a group known as the oleogum resins (mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpenes and mucous substances) that exude from incisions in the bark of the Boswellia trees (fam Burseraceae), the most common species of which are B. carterii (Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia) and B. serrata (India), whereas B. frereana (Oman, Somalia) and B. sacra (Arabia) belong to the rare resins on the market. 

Suhail, M. M., Wu, W., Cao, A., Mondalek, F. G., Fung, K.-M., Shih, R-T. et al. (2011). Boswellia sacra essential oil induces tumor cell-speci c apoptosis and suppresses tumor aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells. BMC om lemeig 11, 129. 

Boswelhc acids, such as p-boswellic acid (318), occur in the exudates of the Indian tree Boswellia serrata. This relative of the species used to produce frankincense, is known in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for its calming, soothing, and antiirritant properties, which are the result of the boswellic acids that they contain (385). These antiinflammatory properties are the result of their ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, a key enzyme in the inflammatory pathway [386, 387]. The antiirritancy is specific in that it does not block production... 

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