Frankincense, the gum resins obtained by tapping trees of the genus Boswellia, has a long and rich history as a precious trade commodity and as fragrant incense material. Surprisingly, the most potent odorants in the highly complex volatile fraction of frankincense have not yet been reported in any of the Boswellia species. Boswellia sacra is said to produce the highest quality of frankincense and grows in coastal areas of Oman and Somalia. In this study, we performed an odor activity guided identification of the most potent odorants in Boswellia sacra gum resins by aroma extract dilution analysis and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry. Six samples were investigated from both Somalia and Oman. The verification of sample identity, an essential criterion for valid data in natural product chemistry, was performed by solid-phase micro-extraction(SPME) GC-MS based on the terpene profile. Additionally, pyrolysate was trapped and analyzed in the same manner to evaluate the odor profile changes associated with burning incense. The results show that mono-, sesqui- and diterpenoids, but also other non-terpenoid compounds, play an important role in the overall aroma composition. In total, 23 odorants were detected and 19 were identified by means of retention indices, mass spectra and reference compounds. Two very potent sesquiterpenes with interesting aromatic properties were identified for the first time in Boswellia sacra resins. A sample chromatogram with flavor dilution (FD) factors marked in blue is given in Figure 1.The current work represents an essential first step towards a solid understanding of the typical frankincense odor and its potential benefits in therapeutical applications.

Unraveling the smell of frankincense: Identification of potent odorants in <i>Boswellia sacra</i> resin and pyrolysate

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Unraveling the smell of frankincense: Identification of potent odorants in Boswellia sacra resin and pyrolysate