Frankincense, Boswellia

G. Culioli, C. Mathe, P. Archier, C. Vieillescazes, A lupane triterpene from frankincense (Boswellia sp., Burseraceae), Phytochemistry, 62, 537 541 (2003). 

Gum resins comprise a diverse variety of substances, including asafoetida Ferula), colophony, frankincense (Boswellia), and myrrh Commiphora). 

Capsaicin—Capsicum frutescens C i nge rol s—Zingiber officinale Mastic—Pistacia lentiscus Turpentine—Pinus palustrus Aspidinol—Dryopteris filix-mas Balm of Gilead—Populus balsamifera Frankincense—Boswellia carter i Asafoetida—Ferula assa-foetida... 

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii Boswellia thuriferd) (Burseraceae), Myrrh (Commiphora myr-rha Balsamodendron myrrha Balsamodendron opobalsamum) (Burseraceae), Labdanum (Cistus ladaniferus), Galbanum (Ferula galbaniflua), Styrax (Styrax officinalis), or Liquidambar orienta-lis, Bahn of Gilhead (Commiphora opobalsamum). Sandalwood (Santalum album), and Opoponax (Opoponax chironium). 

Indian frankincense Boswellia serrata Gum resin Creams/lotions... 

Zhou et al., [3] proved that extracts of frankincense (Boswellia carterii Birdw.) has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in rats with symptom of writhing. 

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. 

Frankincense Trees of genus Boswellia Watt and Sellar (1996) Martinetz et al. (1988) Groom (1981)... 

Burseraceae Commiphora (myrrh) Boswellia (olibanum or frankincense) Canarium (elemi) a and (3 amyrin, euphanes, oleananes... 

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]. 

Frankincense, also called olibanum, is a natural oleo gum resin that exudes from incisions in the bark of Boswellia trees [46, 47]. Diterpenes like incensole or isoincensole and their oxide or acetate derivatives (see Figure 10.3) are characteristic biomarkers of olibanum [48]. Although diterpenoid hydrocarbons possessing the cembrane skeleton have been isolated from a variety of terrestrial and marine organisms, their occurrence and particularly that of cembrenes A and C (see Figure 10.3) is supplementary proof of the presence of olibanum in a sample. Optimisation of the SPME conditions was done with the aim of trapping these low volatile diterpenes. 

A number of important resins are composed of triterpenoids, including the dammar resins which derive from a sub-family of the family Dipterocarpaceae. Dammar resins are fluid, balsamic oleoresins highly suited for caulking and waterproofing. Frankincense (olibanum) is known as a gum-resin collected from various Boswellia spp. and contains amyrin epimers and triterpenoid acids. The gum component is polysaccharide in origin and is water soluble. The Anacardiaceae family contains the genus Pistacia (Mills and White, 1977 21 Mills and White, 1989). 

Olibanum oil and olibanum resinoid are obtained from frankincense, which is a gum resin collected from the bark of the tree Boswellia carterii Birdw. or B. frereana Birdw. (Burseraceae) growing in Arabia and Somalia. The resinoid is produced by solvent extraction, and steam distillation gives the oil, which is a pale yellow, slightly viscous liquid with a balsamic odor and a faint lemon note. 

Another gum resin is frankincense, obtained by cutting notches in the stem of Boswellia carterii, which grows in northeastern Africa and in Arabia. This resin is used in incense. Asafoetida is also a gum resin. See also Gums and Mucilages. 

Essential oils have a value called a flash point, which gives a measure of their flammability. It can be defined as the lowest temperature at which the vapour above a liquid can be ignited in air. Typical values for essential oils are in the range 33 °C to 77 °C. The lowest values are found in oils such as Boswellia carteri (frankincense) at 32 °C and citrus oils at around 43 °C, and the highest in woody oils, with Santalum album (sandalwood) having a flash point above 100°C and Cedrus at antica (Atlas cedarwood) one of 110 °C. 

Frankincense or olibanum is an aromatic resin that is used as incense. It is the dried milky sap of trees in the genus Boswellia. Myrrh is the dried sap of trees in the genus Commiphora. Both of these genera are in the family Burseraceae, which also includes olives. Myrrh is used in perfumes and as incense. Both frankincense and myrrh were used as trade items, and their most popular uses were as incense at funerals and as additives in wine. 

Acetylboswellic acid (triterpene) Boswellia serrata (frankincense) (Burseraceae) [gum resin] magi gift for infant Jesus TOPI (TOPIIa)... 

Dipentene (= a ,/-Limonene) (monoterpene) Boswellia sacra (frankincense) (Burseraceae) [magi gift to infant Jesus], Mynstica fragrans (Myristicaceae), Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae), Pinus spp. (Pinaceae), Hper cubeba (Piperaceae), Andropogon citratus, A. nardus, A. schoenanthus (Poaceae), Citrus aurantium (orange peel, bergamot oil) (Rutaceae) OD-R [irritant]... 

Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) one of the offerings of the three Magi (Kings, Wise men) to the infant Jesus... 

A small amount of isoincensole oxide (116) has been isolated from frankincense, the resin of Boswellia carteri. It is also a minor product of the epoxidation of incensole. The epoxide ring is very inert in this compound. 

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. 

Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) extract Frangula emodin Frangulic acid. See Emodin Frankincense. See Olibanum Frankincense extract. See Olibanum (Boswellia carterii) extract... 

CAS 8050-07-5 EINECS/ELINCS 232-474-1 Synonyms Boswellia carterii gum Boswellia carterii resin Frankincense Frankincense gum Gum olibanum... 

Manuf./Distrib. CAL-Pfizer Frutarom http //www.frutarom.com, Pangaea Sciences http //www.pangaeasciences.com, Thew Arnott Co. Ltd http //www.thewarnott.co.uk Trade Name Synonyms Incense EA t[Alban MuWer http //www.albanmuller.com]. Incense H t[Alban Muller http //www.albanmuller.com] Olibanum (Boswellia carterii) extract CAS 89957-98-2 EINECS/ELINCS 289-620-2 Synonyms Boswellia carterii Boswellia carterii bark extract Boswellia carterii extract Frankincense extract Incense extract Olibanum extract... 

Just as at the present time, ancient people prized various types of perfumes. Historical records show that some of these were obtained from wood or from tree exudates. Frankincense (from Boswellia spp., Burseraceae) and myrrh (from Commiphora spp., Burseraceae) were obtained from incisions in the bark of trees growing in eastern Mediterranean countries. These resinous exudates were traded by the Phoenicians and others more than 2000 years ago to provide perfumes, incense, and unguents (19), and by other agents in the 17th century B.C. (20) and their use continues today [see also (1)]. 

Trees of the genus Boswellia (Burseraceae) exude gum frankincense, a mixture of a resin and an acidic polysaccharide. The acidic polysaccharides of the exudates of Boswellia papyrifera and B, carteri are indicated to be substituted, branched galactans (see 159, 162, 174). The polysaccharide obtained from gum myrrh, which exudes from the damaged bark of Commiphora myrrha (Burseraceae) (159, 174), is difficult to isolate because of its association with protein (162). 

Several oxygenated derivatives based on pinane have been found to occur in woody parts. For example, myrtenol (100), myrtenal (101) and myrtenic acid (102) have been isolated from wood of Chamaecyparis formosensis. (-)-trans-Pinocarveol (103) is present in American gum turpentine. (+)-c/5 -Verbenol (104), its trans isomer, and (+)-tra/w-verbenone (105) are important components of frankincense from Boswellia cartevii (275 vol. Ill b, c, 296, 379). From the roots of Paeonia albiflora, a few highly oxygenated pinane derivatives (e.g., paeoniflo-rin, 106) have been obtained (223). 

---