Abstract
Cinnamic acid, contained in frankincense sap produced by Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin tree), is an important compound that is used for various purposes, such as preservatives, fragrances, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. The production of frankincense sap as a forest product can be increased through the inclusion of S. benzoin seeds, which are propagated from the best mother plants. This study aims to use the content of cinnamic acid contained in the sap of S. benzoin as a criterion for determining the best mother plant for propagation of seeds. The research was conducted using healthy plants, taking sap samples, identifying and confirmation of cinnamic acid levels, and determining the best mother tree based on the content of cinnamic acid. The results of this study have identified six individual S. benzoin trees of very good quality based on their phenotypic advantages and the quantity of sap production. Isolation and identification of cinnamic acid from frankincense samples showed that the composition of cinnamic acid was high (12 to 21%). Three good quality S. benzoin trees, with high cinnamic acid composition, were SBN-7 (21%), SBN-3 (18%), and SBN-10 (17%). The SBN-7 tree was then chosen as the best S. benzoin, producing 2.70 kg year−1 sap, containing cc. 21% cinnamic acid. A selected mother plant will be used as a source of plant material for vegetative propagation to produce good quality seeds similar to the properties of the parent plant forforest conservation and to increase the production of nontimber forest raw materials for medicine and other purposes. The finding of this study is the first to use the composition of cinnamic acid as a criterion for determining the best mother plant. The composition of cinnamic acid in the sap is an important parameter in determining the superiority of S. benzoin plants.
Highlights
Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin), as a woody forest plant, has high economic potential because it produces frankincense sap containing bioactive compounds that have potential as raw materials for medicine. e sap has been used for various purposes, such as religious ceremonies, medicinal ingredients in traditional and modern medicine, raw materials for cosmetics, and industries [1, 2]
International Journal of Forestry Research e economic potential of S. benzoin has not been optimized in North Sumatra, Indonesia, because incense gum products are still only sold in the form of raw materials. e economic value of frankincense resin will be higher if the bioactive compounds contained are isolated into pure chemical compounds and used as materials for medicine and industry
Chemicals and Materials. e chemicals used in our study included NaCl, HCl, NaOH, HCl, diethyl ether, ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), FeCl3, sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and chloroform, all obtained from E-Merck and used without purification. e raw material the chemicals were applied to was frankincense crystals taken directly from selected good quality S. benzoin trees from forest areas in Laelange Namuseng village, Sitelu Tali Urang Julu district, Pakpak Bharat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. e sampling location was at Laelange Namuseng village at longitude 98° 22′ 18.171′′–98° 27′ 25.764′′E and latitude 2° 29′ 54.200′′–2° 33′ 14.251′′N
Summary
Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin), as a woody forest plant, has high economic potential because it produces frankincense sap containing bioactive compounds that have potential as raw materials for medicine. e sap has been used for various purposes, such as religious ceremonies, medicinal ingredients in traditional and modern medicine, raw materials for cosmetics, and industries [1, 2]. Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin), as a woody forest plant, has high economic potential because it produces frankincense sap containing bioactive compounds that have potential as raw materials for medicine. Cinnamic acid is one of the focal compounds contained in large quantities in the sap. Our focal compound is very important and has high economic value because it is used for various commercial purposes, for example, as preservatives, fragrances in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. E economic value of frankincense resin will be higher if the bioactive compounds contained are isolated into pure chemical compounds and used as materials for medicine and industry. Us, the production of frankincense sap needs to be increased through the ecologically sensitive provision of good quality S. benzoin seeds that produce very good quality frankincense in large quantities Isolating cinnamic acid and other compounds from frankincense sap will increase the selling price of the sap, making Sumatra frankincense a reliable source of income for farmers around forest areas. us, the production of frankincense sap needs to be increased through the ecologically sensitive provision of good quality S. benzoin seeds that produce very good quality frankincense in large quantities
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