Analytical investigations on Boswellia occulta essential oils. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ayubova, Marina; Guelleh, Zahra Osman; Guelleh, Moktar Osman; Brévard, Hugues; Baldovini, Nicolas
• Is Part Of: Phytochemistry. Volume 164(2019)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Boswellia occulta (Burseraceae) -- 1-methoxydecane -- 1-methoxyalkanes -- Frankincense; Botanical chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Chimie végétale -- Périodiques; 572.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.04.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9422

Abstract

Abstract: Three samples of Boswellia occulta gum resin (Grades I, II and III) were analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Fifty constituents could be identified, and several of them were isolated by flash chromatography and characterized by NMR. The combinatorial synthesis of homologous series of reference constituents permitted the unambiguous identification of five 1-methoxyalkanes and one 1-methoxyalkene. In addition, we measured the 14 C content of one sample of essential oil and of a methoxyalkanes rich fraction and demonstrated that the origin of these materials is totally natural. Graphical abstract: The essential oil of Boswellia occulta, a newly described species, was investigated by GC-MS analysis and by fractionation followed by structural analysis of some isolated constituents. 14C analysis of the main components demonstrated unambiguously the natural origin of these samples. Image 1 Highlights: The essential oils of Boswellia occulta from Somaliland were characterized. Trans-olibanic acid, a key odorant of frankincense could be detected in all the samples. Several identifications were supported by synthesis and by 1D & 2D NMR analysis. The 14 C analysis demonstrated unambiguously that these samples are totally natural.