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Chemistry and Bioactivity of Boswellic Acids and Other Terpenoids of the Genus Boswellia
Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Hidayat Hussain, René Csuk, Husain Yar Khan
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eBook - ePub
Chemistry and Bioactivity of Boswellic Acids and Other Terpenoids of the Genus Boswellia
Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Hidayat Hussain, René Csuk, Husain Yar Khan
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About This Book
Exhibiting a wealth of interesting activities and novel structures, Boswellic acid and the other terpenoids of the genus Boswellia (from which frankincense is derived) are a growing source of interest for the natural product drug discovery community. Chemistry and Bioactivity of Boswellic Acids and Other Terpenoids of the Genus Boswellia presents, in a single volume for the first time, key research into their structures, synthesis and potential as starting points for the development of medicinal agents.
Drawing on the authors' expert knowledge, this volume is an interesting insight into the identification of novel compounds from endemic plant sources, and is a useful tool for all researchers involved in the discovery and development of bioactive structures from natural products.
- Collates key information on the underlying chemistry and activities of bioactive agents from the Boswellia species
- Highlights techniques applicable to the study of natural products across the globe
- Provides insights into the assessment of medicinal natural products with high economic potential
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NaturwissenschaftenSubtopic
Organische ChemieChapter 1
Taxonomy of Boswellia Tree, Traditional Medicinal Uses of Frankincense and Historical Aspects of Boswellic Acids
Ahmed Al-Harrasi1, Hidayat Hussain1, Rene Csuk2 and Husain Y. Khan1, 1UoN Chair of Oman’s Medicinal Plants and Marine Natural Products, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman, 2Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Organische Chemie, Halle, Germany
Abstract
The genus Boswellia belongs to the Burseraceae family, with approximately 700 species originating from 18 genera. The genus Boswellia, with 21 species, has its principal center of endemism in eastern Africa (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya), southern Arabia (Oman and Yemen), and India. Boswellic acid contents vary remarkably from one species to another. They are reported in significantly large amounts in Boswellia sacra, Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carterii, and Boswellia papyrifera. Parts of the Boswellia tree, in particular the resins, have been used in the traditional medicines of Arabia, India, Africa, and China for millennia. Interestingly, most of these traditional uses are strongly supported by recent findings. The known antiinflammatory activity of frankincense is likely due to Boswellic acids, as supported by several recent reports. Boswellic acids have received remarkable attention due to their potential therapeutic power. Since 1892, when Alexander Tschirch and Oscar Halbey performed the first extraction of the frankincense resin to separate it into neutral and basic fractions, this interest has continued to date.
Keywords
Burseraceae; Boswellia; frankincense; Boswellic acids; Luban; taxonomy
1.1 Taxonomy of Boswellia Tree
The genus Boswellia belongs to the Burseraceae family holding both trees and shrubs of tropical and sub-tropical geographical distribution, with approximately 700 species originating from 18 genera.1,2 The genus Boswellia was named in an honor of Johann Boswell (1719–80) who has described 25 species of Boswellia; some of them, however, appear now as synonyms of the 21 known species. The genus Boswellia has its principal center of endemism in Africa (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya), southern Arabia (Oman and Yemen), and India.
There are 21 species known in genus Boswellia (Table 1.1). These include Boswellia sacra (Oman, Yemen), Boswellia serrata/Boswellia thurifera (India), Boswellia ovalifoliolata (India), Boswellia pirottae (Ethiopia), Boswellia carterii (Somalia), Boswellia frereana (Somalia), Boswellia globosa (Somalia), Boswellia ogadensis (Ethiopia), Boswellia neglecta/Boswellia elegans/Boswellia hildebrandtii/Boswellia microphylla/Boswellia campestris/Boswellia holstii/Boswellia multifoliolata (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya), Boswellia rivae/Boswellia boranensis/Boswellia ruspoliana (Ethiopia, Somalia. Kenya), Boswellia papyrifera/Boswellia chariensis/Boswellia occidentalis (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan), Boswellia odorata (Niger, northern Nigeria, and eastern Cameroun), Boswellia dalzielii (northern Nigeria), Boswellia madagascariensis (Madagascar), Boswellia popoviana, Boswellia nana, Boswellia bullata, Boswellia dioscorides, Boswellia ameero, Boswellia elongate, Boswellia socotrana (Socotra, Yemen).
Table 1.1
| SN | Boswellia species | Geographical location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B. sacra | Oman, Yemen |
| 2 | B. serrata/B. thurifera/Boswellia glabra | India |
| 3 | B. ovalifoliolata | India |
| 4 | B. pirottae | Ethiopia |
| 5 | B. carterii | Somalia |
| 6 | B. frereana | Somalia |
| 7 | B. globosa | Somalia |
| 8 | B. ogadensis | Ethiopia |
| 9 | B. neglecta/B. elegans/B. hildebrandtii/B. microphylla/B. campestris/B. holstii/B. multifoliolata | Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya |
| 10 | B. rivae/B. boranensis/B. ruspoliana | Ethiopia, Somalia. Kenya |
| 11 | B. papyrifera/B. chariensis/B. occidentalis | Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan |
| 12 | B. odorata | Niger, northern Nigeria, and eastern Cameroun |
| 13 | B. dalzielii | Northern Nigeria |
| 14 | B. madagascariensis | Madagascar |
| 15 | B. popoviana | Socotra |
| 16 | B. nana | Socotra |
| 17 | B. bullata | Socotra |
| 18 | B. dioscorides | Socotra |
| 19 | B. ameero | Socotra |
| 20 | Boswellia elongata | Socotra |
| 21 | B. socotrana | Socotra |
Boswellic acid contents vary remarkably from one species to another. Accordingly, it is mandatory to highlight different Boswellia species and their geographical locations. Table 1.1 shows various species and their worldwide distribution. Synonyms for the same species are shown next to the original name to avoid confusion.
Boswellic acids are reported in significantly large amounts in B. sacra, B. serrata, B. carterii, and B. papyrifera.3
Boswellia trees possess an outer bark, often peeling in parchment like flakes, a green inner bark with a milky resin and wood with milky latex. The leaves of these species are generally congested at the end of the branches. Their flowers are bisexual, in panicles or racemes. They exist in rocky slopes and gullies, mostly on limestone boulders up to approximately 1000 m from sea level.4
1.2 Traditional Medicinal Uses
Parts of the Boswellia tree, in particular the resins, have been used in the traditional medicines of Arabia, India, Africa, and China for millennia.
The first reference of the use of frankincense for treatment goes back to the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical papyrus, dated to c. 1500 BC, and describing many herbal medicines.5 An ancient Egyptian myth described frankincense as the “tea...