Frankincense, Myrrh, and Balm of Gilead: Ancient Spices of Southern Arabia and Judea

Ben-Yehoshua, S.; Borowitz, Carole; Hanŭs, L

doi:10.1002/9781118100592.ch1

Cited by 17 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Balm of Gilead was one of the several components of the special incense that was used twice daily in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The identification of the balm of Gilead with the Hebrew names Afarsemon, kataf, nataf, and tzori Gilead can be traced to several sages, including Shimon Ben-Gamliel, Rambam (Maimonides), Saadia Gaon, and the modern biblical botanist Yehuda Feliks [33]. …”

Section: Early History Of Propolismentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical Aspects of Propolis Research in Modern Times

Kuropatnicki

Szliszka

Król

2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

249

195

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Propolis (bee glue) has been known for centuries. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians were aware of the healing properties of propolis and made extensive use of it as a medicine. In the middle ages propolis was not a very popular topic and its use in mainstream medicine disappeared. However, the knowledge of medicinal properties of propolis survived in traditional folk medicine. The interest in propolis returned in Europe together with the renaissance theory of ad fontes. It has only been in the last century that scientists have been able to prove that propolis is as active and important as our forefathers thought. Research on chemical composition of propolis started at the beginning of the twentieth century and was continued after WW II. Advances in chromatographic analytical methods enabled separation and extraction of several components from propolis. At least 180 different compounds have been identified so far. Its antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anesthetic, and healing properties have been confirmed. Propolis has been effectively used in treatment of dermatological, laryngological, and gynecological problems, neurodegenerative diseases, in wound healing, and in treatment of burns and ulcers. However, it requires further research that may lead to new discoveries of its composition and possible applications.

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Section: Early History Of Propolismentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical Aspects of Propolis Research in Modern Times

Kuropatnicki

Szliszka

Król

2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

249

195

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“…Balm of Judea, balm of Gilead, Judean balm, and Mecca balsam would have all referred to the same raw material, a valuable exudate long used in perfumery and medicine, that is missing today. This genuine balm would have been a fragrant exudate coming from the shrub of the same name, also botanically known as Commiphora opobalsamum (L.) Engl …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During Antiquity, C. gileadensis would only grew wild in countries around the Red Sea or cultivated in ancient Judea, the territory of the ancient kingdom of Judah (Jericho, Ein Gedi), and later in Martyria in Egypt . Over time, balm of Judea would also be found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Arabia, Egypt, Cisjordania, Jordania, Palestine, Israel, Yemen, Somalia, India or Syria, although none could be certified . It is only at the end of the XVIII th century that the botanist Carl Linnaeus identified a specimen of this shrub coming from Yemen as the Commiphora gileadensis , the genuine ‘balm of Gilead’ or ‘balm of Judea’, a valuable raw material for perfumery and medicine…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The high demand compared to the limited supply of the balm made it a luxury raw material. The exudate coming from C. gileadensis was sold at a price ‘twice its weight in gold during Middle Ages [476 AD to1492 AD] and twice its weight in silver during the Roman period [753 BC to 410 AD]’, This high cost would have made of the resin one of the most expensive, valuable and precious agricultural product of the Human history …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forgotten Perfumery Plants – Part I: Balm of Judea

Bouville

Erlich

Azoulay

et al. 2019

Chemistry & Biodiversity

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Perfumes have always been products of great importance, mainly composed of natural, valuable and vegetal raw materials. Today, some of them have completely disappeared in perfumery, even though they are part of our cultural heritage and were commonly used in the past. Balm of Judea is one of the most noble, rare and fascinating ingredient long used in perfumery and medicine, that is missing today. After years of research, we collected a resin and an essential oil (steam distillation of fresh aerial parts) from Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C.CHR. native from Saudi Arabia and cultivated in Israel. The aims of this study were to i) identify the main reasons of the loss of the balm of Judea, ii) characterize the volatile composition of the resin and the essential oil and iii) evaluate their olfactory profile and assess their biological activity. Eighty-three compounds were identified in the resin, by a combination of GC-MS and GC/FID techniques, using direct injection and HS-SPME. α-Pinene (24.0 %), sabinene (43.8 %), β-pinene (6.3 %) and cymene (3.6 %) were the main identified compounds, giving an intense, terpenic and lemony smell to the resin. Anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and whitening activities were highlighted. Sabinene (22.7 %), terpinen-4-ol (18.7 %), α-pinene (14.4 %) and cymene (13.6 %) were identified as the main components of the essential oil, giving a spicy, woody and lemony fragrance. Antiinflammatory and whitening activities were emphasized.

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“…(Burseraceae) oleo gum resin is one of the most widely used house hold medicine. It is commonly known as frankincense and is marketed throughout the world (Ben-Yehoshua et al, 2012). Frankincense is used in perfumery, aromatherapy, and religious rites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proulcerogenic effect of water extract ofBoswellia sacraoleo gum resin in rats

Asad

Alhomoud

2015

Pharmaceutical Biology

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Context: The water extract of Boswellia sacra Flueck. (Burseraceae) is used in the treatment of gastric and hepatic disorders in the Arab countries. Objective: The effect of Boswellia sacra water extract on gastric secretion and experimentally induced gastric ulcers in rats was studied. Materials and methods: Acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers, pylorus ligation, aspirininduced, ethanol-induced, and restraint plus cold stress-induced gastric ulcer models were employed. The effect on normal rats was also studied. The water extract of B. sacra was administered orally at doses of 2 and 5 ml/kg once daily ranging from single dose to 30 d treatment depending on the model. The extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to determine the presence of various phytoconstituents. Results: Boswellia sacra water extract (5 ml/kg, p.o (per os)) aggravated acetic acid-induced chronic ulcers, wherein an increase in ulcer index (p50.01) and ulcer score (p50.05) was observed. In pylorus-ligated rats, the extract increased gastric content volume (p50.01), free acidity (p50.01), total acidity (p50.01), ulcer index (p50.01), and pepsin activity (p50.05). There was no significant effect on the development of ethanol-induced and aspirin-induced ulcers while an increase in the development of stress-induced ulcers was observed (p50.01). The extract did not produce any ulcers when administered to normal rats. The dose of 2 ml/kg was less proulcerogenic compared with 5 ml/kg. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents that included menthol, 3-cyclohexen-1-ol, and octanoic acid. Conclusion: Boswellia sacra water extract has proulcerogenic activity due to its gastric hypersecretory effect.

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Frankincense, Myrrh, and Balm of Gilead: Ancient Spices of Southern Arabia and Judea

Cited by 17 publications

References 75 publications

Historical Aspects of Propolis Research in Modern Times

Historical Aspects of Propolis Research in Modern Times

Forgotten Perfumery Plants – Part I: Balm of Judea

Proulcerogenic effect of water extract ofBoswellia sacraoleo gum resin in rats

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