Frankincense Revisited, Part II: Volatiles in Rare Boswellia Species and Hybrids.

In this second part of the investigation of volatiles and semivolatiles in Boswellia gum resins, an additional five less common species were analyzed by (SPME-)GC/MS, namely B. ameero, B. elongata, B.

Frankincense Revisited, Part I: Comparative Analysis of Volatiles in Commercially Relevant Boswellia Species.

The genus Boswellia comprises many species which are famous for their production of frankincense, a fragrant gum resin. In the published literature, manifold studies on the volatiles and semivolatiles in individual samples of these gum resins exist, yet very few studies have investigated multiple samples. Contradictory results with regard to the volatile composition exist in literature.

Fragrant Sesquiterpene Ketones as Trace Constituents in Frankincense Volatile Oil of Boswellia sacra.

In a previous study, two highly potent yet unidentified odorants were detected that were present at trace levels in the volatile fraction of Boswellia sacra gum resin. These two compounds were isolated semipreparatively from the volatile oil by a sensory-guided fractionation process involving microscale bulb-to-bulb distillation, countercurrent chromatography, and preparative gas chromatography. In this manner, the two oxygenated sesquiterpenes could be identified as rotundone (1) and mustakone (2).

Identification of odorants in frankincense (Boswellia sacra Flueck.) by aroma extract dilution analysis and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry.

Frankincense has been known, traded and used throughout the ages for its exceptional aroma properties, and is still commonly used in both secular and religious settings to convey a pleasant odor. Surprisingly, the odoriferous principle(s) underlying its unique odor profile have never been published. In this study, resin samples of Boswellia sacra Flueck.