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High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Triterpenoids in Commercial Frankincense

Chromatographia volume 60, pages 493–499 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed: it is a simple and specific method for the determination of fifteen pentacyclic triterpenic compounds (α-boswellic acid, 3-O-acetyl-α-boswellic acid, β-boswellic acid, 3-O-acetyl-β-boswellic acid, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, lupeol, 3-epi-α-amyrin, 3-epi-β-amyrin, 3-epi-lupeol, α-amyrenone, β-amyrenone, lupenone, lupeolic acid and 3-O-acetyl-lupeolic acid) found in the most commonly traded frankincense, usually called “Eritrean-type” olibanum. In addition, the chromatographic comparison between fresh commercial resins and botanically certified ones was described in order to determine the geographical and/or the botanical origins of commercial frankincense. According to previous botanical studies, it appears difficult to make an unequivocal distinction between Boswellia carteri and B. sacra. On the other hand, Boswellia frereana (considered as a source of high-grade frankincense) shows a characteristic chromatogram and could be unambiguously distinguished from the other producing species of commercial frankincense. In a chemical point of view, Boswellia carteri and B. sacra were more especially characterized by the presence of lupeolic acid, boswellic acids and their respective O-acetyl derivatives, whereas 3-epi-lupeol was the major compound in B. frereana methanolic extracts.

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Acknowledgement.

The authors wish to thank Mr M. Pryet for the supply of samples of commercial frankincense, and Mr J.-M. Bel, Pr M. Thulin and Dr J. Dupéron for the botanically certified resins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie Bio-Organique et des Systèmes Moléculaires Vectoriels, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 33 rue Louis Pasteur, 84000, Avignon, France

    C. Mathe, G. Culioli, P. Archier & C. Vieillescazes

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  1. C. Mathe
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  2. G. Culioli
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  3. P. Archier
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  4. C. Vieillescazes
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Correspondence to C. Vieillescazes.

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Mathe, C., Culioli, G., Archier, P. et al. High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Triterpenoids in Commercial Frankincense. Chromatographia 60, 493–499 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1365/s10337-004-0417-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1365/s10337-004-0417-3

Keywords

  •  Column liquid chromatography
  • Lupane, oleanane and ursane triterpenes
  • Boswellic acids
  • Boswellia carteri, Boswellia sacra and Boswellia frereana