Commiphora species

Furanoeudesmanes such as (-)-fiiranoeudesma-1,3-diene, furanoeudesma-l,4-dien-6-one and furanoeudesma-l,4(15)-diene, known as (-)-lindestrene, belong to the sweetish balsamic-smelling constituents of the yellowish red gum-resin myrrh, used as a carminative and astringent and obtained from Commiphora species (e.g. Commiphora abyssinica, C. molmol, Burseraceae) Tubipofuran, a diastereomer of... 

Source Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. C. molmol Engl, ex Tschirch C. madag-ascariensis Jacq. (syn. C. abyssinica (Berg) Engl.) C. erythraea (Ehrenb.) Engl. and other Commiphora species (Family Burseraceae). 

Commiphora species yielding myrrh are shrubs to small trees up to about 10 m high native to northeastern Africa and... 

Positive alkaloid tests have been recorded for species of Commiphora, Basweliia, and Prolium. In this study, a total of 149 samples including 95 species gave positive results for Prolium maegregorii (1/4), P. neglectum, and one other undetermined species of that genus. 

Myrrh Oil occurs as a light brown or green liquid having the characteristic odor of the gum. It is the volatile oil obtained by steam distillation from myrrh gum obtained from several species of Commiphora (Fam Burseraceae). It is soluble in most fixed oils, but is only slightly soluble in mineral oil. It is insoluble in glycerin and in propylene glycol. It becomes darker in color and more viscous under the influence of air and light. 

Commiphora iringen-sis Eastern Africa This genus yields many important resins such as myrrh but may yield gums from some species. 

Myrrh. Gum-resin myrrh. From Commiphora abyssinica (Esrg) Eng. or from other species ol Commiphora, Burseraceae. Yields not less than 30% alcohol-soluble extract. Habit. Nutria, Somaliland, Arabia. ConniJ. 20-25% resin, 57-61% gum, 7-17% volatile oil and a bitter principle. 

In a study on the anti-inflammatory properties of resins from Burseraceae species, mansumbinoic acid, an octanordammarane isolated from Commiphora incisa, induced, at 0.25 mmol/kgp.o., a 48% decrease in the area under the time-course curve obtained 6 h after induction of edema. This effect proved to be dose dependent, and the calculated ED50 was 0.15 mmol/kg. TTie closely related ketone mansumbinone was of minor potency... 

Commiphora abyssinica (family Burseraceae) Distributed in North-East Africa, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and is used for perfumery, for sweets, lemonade and chewing gum. Other species of Commiphora are also used for similar purposes. 

Myrrh is an oleo-resinous substance obtained as a secretion in the parenchyma of the hark of various species of Commiphora. The so-called true myrrh, or Herabol myrrh, is collected principally in Arabia and Somaliland, whilst Bisabol myrrh, or bdellium, occurs as an admixture of true myrrh, especially when collected in Somaliland, and is identical or closely related to Indian bdellium. 

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