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Planta Med 1987; 53(4): 382-384
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-962745
Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Essential Oil of Olibanum

S. M. Abdel Wahab1 , E. A. Aboutabl1 , S. M. El-Zalabani1 , H. A. Fouad1 , H. L. De Pooter2 , B. El-Fallaha3
  • 1Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El-Aini Street, 11562 Cairo, Egypt.
  • 2Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of AgriculturaSciences, State University of Gent, Belgium.
  • 3Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
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Publication History

1987

Publication Date:
24 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The essential oil of the oleogum resin “Olibanum” was prepared by direct steam distillation as well as by steam distillation of an n-hexane extract. Physical and chemical constants of the oil were determined. GC-MS was used for the analysis of the oil. Thirty-three components were identified in the steam distilled oil by their Kováts indices on stabilized OV-1 columns and by mass spectral data. The oil contains 62.1% esters, 15.4% alcohols, 9.9% monoterpene hydrocarbons, and 7.1% diterpenes. Certain minor constituents of the steam distilled oil failed to show up in the oil prepared by steam distillation of the n-hexane extract. Both oils exhibit antimicrobial activity, the activity of the steam distilled oil being higher than that of the oil prepared by steam distillation of the n-hexane extract.