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The Volatile Constituents From The Leaves, Bark and Fruits of Bursera Aroma...
The Volatile Constituents From The Leaves, Bark and Fruits of Bursera Aroma...
aromatica
Trevor H. Yee,
Natural Product Institute, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
Timon Waugh,
Coffee Industry Board, Kingston, Jamaica
Abstract
The essential oil from the leaves, bark and fruits of Bursera aromatica (Burseraceae) collected from the Cockpit
Country region of Jamaica were obtained by hydrodistillation in 0.03%, 0.09% and 1.12% (w/w) yields, respectively,
and were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. Thirty-eight constituents of the leaf oil (92.1%), 26 constituents of the
bark oil (96.5%), and 27 constituents of the fruit oil (93.5%) were identified. The predominant compounds were
nonane (14.7%, 5.2% and 23.7%), a-copaene (15.8%, 23.7% and 14.0%), b-caryophyllene (21.7%, 12.8% and 6.8%),
d-cadinene (11.3%, 21.5% and 4.3%) and viridiflorol (5.9%, 11.8% and 7.9%) in the oils from the leaves, bark and
fruits, respectively. In addition to the components listed above, b-pinene (7.0%) and limonene (8.0%) were also among
the major components of the fruit oil.
Key Word Index
Bursera aromatica, Burseraceae, essential oil composition, nonane, a-copaene, b-caryophyllene, d-cadinene,
viridiflorol.
Introduction
Bursera aromatica, an endemic species of Bursera found in
Jamaica and colloquially known as Siboney, is a perennial plant
belonging to the family Burseraceae. This family is comprised
of approximately 20 genera and 600 species (1). The plant is
an aromatic resinous tree that grows up to 13 m in height with
smooth, grey bark and green, compound leaves of approximately
7cm long. The tree is commonly found in limestone regions
of the northwestern parts of the island (i.e., in the parishes
of Hanover, St. James and Trelawny) (1). Plants of this genus
have long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of
ulcer, venereal disease (2,3), diarrhea, cold, fever and flu (4).
In addition, they are used to alleviate the discomfort of insect
bites, sunburn, rashes and skin sores (5). Resins from this genus
have been reported to show anti-inflammatory activity (6,7)
and antibacterial activity (8,9).
The Bursera genera contain several aromatic species and owe
their economical value to the essential oils they produce(10).
Porter et al.
Experimental
Plant material: Bursera aromatica material (leaves, bark
and fruits) was collected from the Cockpit Country region of
Trelawny, Jamaica. The sample was authenticated at the Herbarium in the Department of Life Sciences, The University
of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica as Bursera aromatica. A
voucher specimen was deposited at the Herbarium (Accession#UCWI35225).
Analysis: The collected plant materials were separated
into leaves (2.02 kg), bark (1.12 kg) and fruits (0.41 kg). The
fresh plant parts were then separately milled, weighed and
Table I. Percentage composition of the volatile constituents from the leaves, bark and fruits of Bursera aromatica grown in Jamaica
Percentage
Components
a
RI
b
nonane
899
a-pinene
933
camphene
947
b-pinene
976
limonene
1027
undecane
1096
a-terpineol
1197
decanol
1208
d-elemene
1331
a-cubebene
1343
cyclosativene
1366
a-copaene
1375
b-cubebene
1384
sativene
1386
a-gurjunene
1400
b-caryophyllene
1414
a-humulene
1451
allo-aromadendrene
1455
d-muurolene
1470
trans-cadinena-1(6),4-diene
1476
viridiflorene
1484
trans-muurola-4(14),5-diene
1486
epi-cubebol
1490
a-muurolene
1493
d-cadinene
1515
trans-calamenene
1518
a-calacorene
1537
b-calacorene
1558
trans-cadinene ether
1566
caryophyllene oxide
1578
globulol
1599
viridiflorol
1604
1-epi-cubenol
1623
a-epi-cadinol
1638
a-epi-muurolol
1640
a-muurolol
1643
a-cadinol
1652
cis-calamenen-10-ol
1653
trans-calamenen-10-ol
1661
8-hydroxy-isobornyl-isobutyrate 1680
Total
Yield (%w/w)
Leaf oil
Bark oil
Fruit oil
IDc
14.7
0.8
tr
1.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.2
tr
0.4
1.6
15.8
1.1
-
0.3
21.7
4.4
2.1
0.9
0.8
0.2
-
tr
0.5
11.3
0.3
0.5
0.2
tr
3.1
0.4
5.9
0.9
tr
tr
tr
0.8
tr
0.4
0.3
92.1
0.03
5.2
tr
tr
0.5
tr
tr
tr
-
tr
0.6
0.3
23.7
3.7
tr
tr
12.8
3.7
3.3
1.4
1.3
tr
-
tr
0.7
21.5
-
0.5
tr
tr
2.4
0.6
11.8
0.1
0.5
tr
tr
1.2
tr
0.7
-
96.5
0.09
23.7
4.3
tr
7.0
8.0
-
4.8
-
tr
tr
1.8
14.0
2.3
-
-
6.8
0.9
1.8
0.8
-
-
tr
-
tr
4.3
-
-
-
-
5.2
-
7.9
tr
tr
tr
tr
0.6
0.5
0.6
-
93.5
1.12
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
GC/MS, RI
a
Elution order on CPSIL 8 capillary column; b Retention index relative to n-alkane series (C8C25) on the DB-5 column; c GS/MS, tentative identification by gas
chromatography/mass spectrometer; tr = trace (< 0.05%).
B. aromatica
Table II. The chemical distribution of terpenes and other components in the volatiles from the leaves, bark and fruits of
Bursera aromatica
Compound Class
Leaves
Bark
Fruits
No. of compd.
No. of compd.
No. of compd.
Monoterpenes
Hydrcarbons
Alcohols
Acetates
Total
2.6
0.3
0.3
3.2
4
1
1
6
0.5
trace
-
0.5
4
1
-
5
19.3
2.8
-
22.1
4
1
5
Sesquiterpenes
Hydrocarbons
Alcohols
Oxides
Total
62.1
8.4
3.1
73.6
17
10
2
29
73.5
14.9
2.4
90.8
17
10
2
29
32.7
9.6
5.2
47.5
12
8
1
21
Other
15.3
5.2
23.7
compd. = compound.
Table III. Distribution of the major terpenes and other components in the volatiles from the leaves, bark and fruits of
Bursera aromatica
Component Class
Leaves
Barks
Fruits
mj. comp.
RI
mj. comp.
RI
mj. comp.
RI
Monoterpenes
Hydrcarbons
Alcohol
Acetate
b-pinene
a-terpinol
HII
1.4
0.3
0.3
933
1197
1680
b-pinene
a-terpinol
-
0.5
trace
-
933
1197
-
limonene
a-terpinol
-
8.0
4.8
-
1027
1197
-
Sesquiterpenes
Hydrocarbons
Alcohol
Oxide
b-caryo.
vir. florol
c.oxide
21.7
5.9
3.1
1414
1604
1578
a-copaene
vir. florol
c. oxide
23.7
11.8
2.4
1375
1604
1578
a-copaene
vir. florol
c. oxide
14.0
7.9
5.2
1375
1604
1578
Other
nonane
14.7
899
nonane
5.2
899
nonane
23.7
899
mj. = major; comp. = component; HII = 8-hydroxy-isobornyl-isobutyrate; b-caryo. = b-caryophylene; vir. florol = viridiflorol; c. oxide = caryophyllene oxide.
Porter et al.
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The authors wish to thank The University of the West Indies (U.W.I.),
Mona, for financial assistance to carry out this work. The authors would
also like to thank Patrick A. Lewis from the Herbarium, Department
of Life Sciences, U.W.I. for authenticating the plant materials and the
Coffee Industry Board, Kingston, Jamaica for their generosity towards
the use of their Varian GC/MS instrument.
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