Volatile Compounds in Oleo-gum Resin of Socotran Species of Burseraceae

Abstract

Socotra Island is well known for its high rate of plant species endemism and having the highest concentration of frankincense species in the world. Thirteen species in Burseraceae occur on the island, of which 12 are endemic. A total of only four species from the island have had the chemical compositions of their resins published. Moreover, in general, most studies on chemical composition of frankincense and myrrh resins have analysed samples that were not freshly collected (including some of considerable age). Our study therefore aimed at analysing the volatile compound composition of all Socotran Burseraceae species, using fresh resin sample analysis. We found a total of 103 volatile compounds in all the species, with 53 of them fully identified, 27 of them partially determined and 23 still unidentified. These include four compounds (α‑fenchene, calarene, trans‑β‑farnesene, α‑elemene) newly reported from Boswellia and two (phytol and ledene) newly reported from Commiphora. Our results suggested the huge potential to find new chemical compounds among endemic Burseracean species.