Chemical Composition of the Oleogum Resin Essential Oils of Boswellia dalzielii from Burkina Faso

Abstract

Frankincense, the oleogum resin from members of Boswellia, has been used as medicine and incense for thousands of years, and essential oils derived from frankincense are important articles of commerce today. A new source of frankincense resin, Boswellia dalzielii from West Africa has been presented as a new, alternative source of frankincense. In this work, the oleogum resins from 20 different Boswellia dalzielii trees growing in Burkina Faso, West Africa were collected. Hydrodistillation of the resins gave essential oils that were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The essential oils were dominated by α-pinene (21.0%–56.0%), followed by carvone (2.1%–5.4%) and α-copaene (1.8%–5.0%). Interestingly, there was one individual tree that, although rich in α-pinene (21.0%), also had a substantial concentration of myrcene (19.2%) and α-thujene (9.8%). In conclusion, the oleogum resin essential oil compositions of B. dalzielii, rich in α-pinene, are comparable in composition to other frankincense essential oils, including B. sacra, B. carteri, and B. frereana. Additionally, the differences in composition between samples from Burkina Faso and those from Nigeria are very slight. There is, however, a rare chemotype of B. dalzielii that is dominated by myrcene, found both in Burkina Faso as well as Nigeria.

The Chemical Composition of Single-Tree Boswellia frereana Resin Samples

“…Colebr., B dalzielii Hutch., B rivae Engl., and the Socotran Boswellia, are similarly rich in these mono-and sesquiterpenes. 5,6,[10][11][12][13][14] By contrast, Boswellia occulta Thulin, DeCarlo, & S.P. Johnson is dominated by methoxydecane and methoxyoctane, unusual components for a plant essential oil.…”

Inter-Tree Variation in the Chemical Composition of Boswellia papyrifera Oleo-Gum-Resin

“…Boswellia frereana produces a variable profile rich in α-thujene and α-pinene, with modest levels of p-cymene and sabinene. 9,11,20 Boswellia dalzielii is high in α-pinene, sometimes with large amounts of myrcene and limonene, 21,22 while Boswellia serrata is typically high in α-thujene with other terpenes such as myrcene, kessane, sabinene, and α-pinene. 23 Boswellia sacra has a highly variable essential oil composition.…”

Volatile Composition and Enantiomeric Distribution of Spanish Sage (Salvia officinalis Subsp. lavandulifolia [Vahl] Gams) From Spain

“…S. lavandulifolia EOs were analyzed by GC-MS as previously described by DeCarlo et al 30 Shimadzu GC-MS-QP2010 Ultra, electron impact (EI) mode (70 eV, 40-400 m / z scan range, 3.0 scan/sec scan rate). ZB-5 ms capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film thickness); temperature program (50 °C for 2 min, increased 2 °C/min to 260 °C); He carrier gas, column head pressure 552 kPa, flow rate 1.37 mL/min; injector temperature 260 °C, ion source temperature 200 °C.…”

“…Analysis of Spanish sage EOs was carried out as previously described by DeCarlo et al 30 : Shimadzu GC 2010 FID, ZB-5 capillary column under the same operating conditions as above for GC-MS.…”