Resins frankincense

Figure 3.16 PCA scatter plot of mass spectral data recorded by DE MS for mastic resin, frankincense resin, birch bark pitch and organic residue recovered from the ceramic censer from Antinoe (Egypt)...

Despite the complexity of the chemical composition of the resinous materials, in a few minutes such techniques provide a mass spectral fingerprint, which highlights the compounds that are the main components in the sample. They avoid any sampling treatment before analysis. They have thus enabled diterpenoid resinous materials from Coniferae, and several triterpenoid materials to be clearly identified. In particular, the DE-MS technique is able to distinguish between different triterpenoid materials such as mastic resin, frankincense resin and birch bark tar. In fact, using PCA on DE-MS mass... 

OCN (oleo gum resin) frankincense Indian olibanum Part gum resin... 

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

Weihnachten, f.pl. Christmas. Weihnachtswurzel, /. black hellebore. Weihrauch, m. incense specif., frankincense, ohbanum. -harz, n. incense resin specif., frankincense. 

The final chapter (Chapter 16) shows how PLC can be used to isolate and identify unknown terpenoic compounds from the frankincense resin (olibanum) and to find marker diterpenes. The novel development at low temperamres is included in the PLC methods described. 

The Use of PLC for Isolation and Identification of Unknown Compounds from the Frankincense Resin (Olibanum) Strategies for Finding Marker Substances... 

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. 

Resins such as myrrh, frankincense, and labdanum achieved prominence early in antiquity for their fragrant smell and were used for making perfumes and medicines as well as for burning as incense during religious services and ritual ceremonies (Morris 1984). Some well-known incense resins are listed in Table 76. 

Natural resins Pine resins, sandarac, copals, mastic, dammar, amber, frankincense, benzoe, styrax, myrrh, (plant resins) shellac (animal resin) tar and pitch (from thermal treatment of plant resins or wood) Varnishes, coatings, waterproofing materials, paint binders, ingredients of cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations... 

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]. 

The survival of a-boswellic acid, p-boswellic acid and their O-acetates, which have been isolated only from frankincense, has been demonstrated in archaeological samples [99,107,113]. These compounds are considered as very useful specific chemical markers for the identification of frankincense in resinous archaeological materials. 

P.F. van Bergen, T.M. Peakman, E.C. Leigh Firbank, R.P. Evershed, Chemical evidence for archaeological frankincense boswellic acids and their derivatives in solvent soluble and insoluble fractions of resin like materials, Tetrahedron Letters, 38, 8409 8412 (1997). 

Figures 3.4 3.6 report the average mass spectra obtained, respectively, for frankincense resin, mastic resin and birch bark tar [16]. Moreover, in each spectrum the main ion and ion radical fragments are assigned, and for each material the main molecular markers are shown.

Figure 3.4 Mass spectrum of frankincense resin obtained by DE MS...

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). 

If you trace the word resin back far enough, you ll find that it was originally defined as a low molecular weight, natural polymer that is an exudate of (it exudes from) vegetable or non-vegetable matter. Examples are rosin (from pine trees), shellac (from insects), and both frankincense and myrrh (aromatic gums from an East African and an Asian species of tree). Resins like these do not flow if heat and pressure are applied, like plastics do. They decompose or melt. (This definition of resin is obsolete in commerce today.)... 

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. 

If the residue from the initial extraction is of a resinous nature, it is called a resinoid, e.g. benzoin, myrrh, frankincense. Many resinoids will yield essential oils when distilled if they contain sufficiently volatile aromatic constituents. 

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)... 

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

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