The Essential Oil of Olibanum

Abstract

The essential oil of the oleogum resin "Olibanum" was prepared by direct steam distillation as well as by steam distillation of an N-hexane extract. Physical and chemical constants of the oil were determined. GC-MS was used for the analysis of the oil. Thirty-three components were identified in the steam distilled oil by their Kováts indices on stabilized OV-1 columns and by mass spectral data. The oil contains 62.1% esters, 15.4% alcohols, 9.9% monoterpene hydrocarbons, and 7.1% diterpenes. Certain minor constituents of the steam distilled oil failed to show up in the oil prepared by steam distillation of the N-hexane extract. Both oils exhibit antimicrobial activity, the activity of the steam distilled oil being higher than that of the oil prepared by steam distillation of the N-hexane extract.

Review Article: Frankincense and myrrh resources of Ethiopia: I distribution, production, opportunities for dryland development and research needs

“…Both genera belong to the family Bureseraceae. Boswellia and Commiphora species that yield frankincense and myrrh are tropical genera, which are dominantly found around the Horn of Africa, and some in Arabian Peninsula and India (Wahab et al, 1987;Farah, 1994; FAO, 1995; Ermias Dagne et al, 1997).…”

“…Somalia and Ethiopia are the major producers and exporters (Wahab et al, 1987;Coulter, 1987;Farah, 1994;FAO, 1995). In India, resinous gum obtained from Boswellia serrata is also traded as frankincense under the name Indian olibanum but is graded as an inferior quality olibanum at international market (Farah, 1994; FAO, 1995).…”

“…Still today, frankincense and myrrh are widely used in unprocessed form for fragrance in many religious rituals (Coulter, 1987;Farah, 1994; FAO, 1995). Moreover, frankincense and myrrh are phytotoxically safe raw materials utilized in many of today's industries such as pharmacology and folk medicines (Mielck, 1970;Tyler, 1993;Wichtl and Bisset, 1994;Bruneton, 1995;Budavari, 1996; DAB, 1997; BHP, 1998), food industries (Council of Europe, 1981; Ford et al, 1992; FAO, 1995), flavouring, beverage and liqueurs (FAO, 1995), cosmetics, detergents, creams and perfumery (Fragrance Foundation, 1983;Tucker, 1986;Wahab et al, 1987;Farah, 1994; FAO, 1995;Leung and Foster, 1996), and in paints, adhesive and dye manufacturing (Krishna-Murthy and Shiva, 1977; FAO, 1995;Anonymous, 2001). …”

“…For instance, in the years 1996/97, 1997/98, and 1998/99 about 1466, 1925 and 1649 tonnes of gum resins were exported from Ethiopia with the total values of US$ 2.5, 2.6 and 2.1 million, respectively (Anonymous, 2001). Ethiopia was the main trader of frankincense and myrrh more than 4000 years ago (Ahmed, 1982), and today Ethiopia and Somalia are the major producers and exporters of frankincense and myrrh in the world market (FAO, 1995;Coulter, 1987;Wahab et al, 1987).…”

Frankincense and myrrh resources of Ethiopia: II. Medicinal and industrial uses

“…The oil portion contains 62.1% ester, 15.4% alcohol, 9.9% monoterpene hydrocarbons and 7.1% diterpenes (Wahab et al, 1987). About 27 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons have been identified in the steam-distilled oils of Boswellia species (Yates and Wenninger, 1970 (Tucker, 1986;Wahab et al, 1987).…”