Pistacia lentiscus Anacardiaceae

The following examples, starting with the pistachio, are concerned primarily with variation in prohles of common volatile components of a number of aromatic plant species native to the Mediterranean Basin. For the most part, the examples involve 

From the data available, it is difficult to explain the apparent plasticity of volatile compounds produced by plants from these different areas. Subtle enviromnental factors may be at work. Alternatively, selection for oil yield, particular oil composition, or for some other feature, over the years may have resulted in the variation now seen. The variation seen in Corsican plants may have arisen through the arrival on the island of propagules originating in the other growing areas. In areas so long occupied by humankind, it is often difficult to sort out purely natural driving forces from the effects of cultivation. 

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Procyanidin polymer (flavan-3-ol polymer) Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae) ACE (at -10 pM) [80]... 

Quinic acid Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae), Sour (acid) taste [green... 

Resin-like exudate (wound secretion) from pistachio trees (Pistacia lentiscus, Anacardiaceae) indigenous in the Mediterranean region soluble in diethyl ether, partly soluble in ethanol and turpentine oil mp. 105-120°C. The resin fraction contains triterpene acids such as masticadienonic acid (C30H46O3, Mr... 

Mastic. Balsam tree pistachia galls mastiche mastix lentisk Mastisol. Concrete resinous exudation from Pistacia lentiscus L., Anacardiaceae. Habit Mediterranean Islands, especially Chios. Cwtso f. Volatile oil (about 2%) mastieinic, mast iconic acids masticoresene. 

Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) EO was evaluated for its anti-in ammatory effects on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma. The oil signi cantly reduced the production of TNF-a and IL-6 as well as the cotton pellet-induced granuloma (Maxia et al., 2010). 

Resins are the products of various shrubs and trees, especially conifers. In addition to essential oils, resins contain resin acids, such as tricyclic diterpene abietic acid, resin alcohols (resinols), resin esters and other substances. Particularly weU known is Chios mastic gum. Real mastic is only produced in the south part of Chios Island, and comes from the mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, Anacardiaceae). It is used to flavour alcohoHc beverages (especially Hqueurs and ouzo), wine, baked goods, chewing gum and some cosmetic products. The essential oil with a balsam-Hke odour has antiseptic properties as it contains a- and fS-pinene as essential ingredients. 

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