Burseraceae (the incense tree family)

The Burseraceae are a tropical family and contain 600 species included in 20 genera.

The distinguishing features

Leaf volatile oils, stem oleo-gum-resin in ducts in bark (stem) and collateral ovules (2 ovules in each chamber).

Useful plants

A. Medicinal and resinous plants

1. Shallaki/Salai, Frankincense (Boswellia serrata Roxb.)

B. serrata is a medium-sized deciduous aromatic tree very common in central parts of India. On injury, from the bark, oleo-gum-resin oozes out, which on exposure to air hardens to brownish yellow tears or crusts known as frankincense (salai guggul). Resin is also extracted by tapping the bark. It contains 8-9% volatile oil, 40-45% resin and 30-35% gum. The volatile oil consists of thujene (50%), and p-cymene (14%) as major components The resin consists of a diterpene alcohol, serratol and eight triterpene acids such as derivatives of tirucallenoic acids and four boswellic acids The gum is an acidic polysaccharide consisting of uronic acid (30%), galactose (46%), D-arabinose, xylose and mannose. Frankincense is very effective in osteoarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and spondylitis and is used as astringent, stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, and ecbolic and exhibit antiseptic properties. It is also useful in ulcers, tumours, rheumatism, inflammations, piles and skin diseases.

2. Myrrh(Commiphora spp.)

Myrrh is an oleo-gum-resin obtained from various species of Commiphora; growing in Africa, Arabia and Abyssinia. Apart from C. myrrha Engl., which forms the principal source, C. abyssinica Engl., C. schimperi Engl. And C. erythraea Arn. also yield this valuable resin. The resin, occurring in the schizolysigenous cavities of phloem, exudes naturally from the spontaneous cracks or crevices developed in the bark or obtained by making incisions. The

yellowish white liquid oozing out gradually solidifies to form reddish brown irregular masses, which are collected. Myrrh contains 5-10% volatile oil, 25-40% resin, 55-60% gum and some bitter principles as impurities. The yellow-green volatile oil consists of eugenol, cuminaldehyde, mono- and some sesquiterpenes. The resin contains alpha, beta and gamma -commiphoric acids;alpha and beta heerabomyrrholic acids and some phenolic compounds such as protocatechuic acid and pyrocatechin. The gum portion is composed of about 20% protein and 60% carbohydrates, which on hydrolysis yield galactose, arabinose and glucuronic acid as principal components.

The oldest and most valuable gum-resin -myrrh – is used as an incense, in perfumes and embalming. In medicine it is employed as a tonic, stimulant and antiseptic.

3. Guggul(Commiphora wightii Arnott)

Guggul is the oleo-gum-resin obtained from C. wightii, a native tree of India. The resin, which is exuded naturally or by incisions, forms pale yellow or reddish brown vermiform pieces and possesses a bitter aromatic taste. It contains about 0 37% essential oil, consisting chiefly of myrcene, dimyrcene and polymyrcene; sterols like guggulusterol I, II, & III, cholesterol, guggulusterones Z & E, diterpenes such as α-camphorene, cembrene and mukulol and long chain aliphatic tetrols and sesamin. Muscanone, 3-O- (1’’, 8’’, 14’’ trimethyl hexadecanyl) naringenin is an antifungal flavone isolated from this plant along with naringenin. Guggul is used in treating rheumatism, obesity, and neurological and urinary disorders. Guggulusterols are found to be anti-inflammatory and hypocholesteremic.

4. Elemi (Canarium luzonicum) is a resin from a tree native to the Philippines. Canarium luzonicum is a large evergreen tree growing to a maximum height of about 30 m (100 ft). Elemi resin is a pale yellow substance, of honey-like consistency. Aromatic elemi oil is steam distilled from the resin. It is a fragrant resin with a sharp pine and lemon-like scent. One of the resin components is called amyrin. Limonene is the major component, up to (80%), phellandrene, limonene, elemol, elemicin, terpineol, carvone, and terpinolene

Elemi resin is chiefly used commercially in varnishes and lacquers, and certain printing inks and in incense. It is used as a herbal medicine in plasters and ointments to treat wounds, scars and ageing skin, and as well as respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, coughs and catarrh. It is also believed to have some stress relieving properties.

The seed kernels are used for food, both raw and cooked. An edible oil can be extracted from the seeds, and the pulp can be stewed but is somewhat insipid. The young shoots can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

· Other varieties of Elemi include African Elemi from Boswellia frereana; Brazilian Elemi from Protium heptaphyllum and Bursera gummifera; and Mexican Elemi from Amyris Elemifera and A. balsamifera.

5. Black Dammars (Canarium strictum) known by common names including black dhup, Raal, Raal dhup , is a species of tree in the family Burseraceae . It is found in moist deciduous to semi-evergreen forests. It grows up to 40 meters (130 ft) tall at altitudes in the range of 750–1,400 meters (2,460–4,590 ft). Tapping is done by making vertical incisions on the bark in a belt about 1.8m from the bottom and then lighting a fire round the base of the tree. The resin flows out after two years and continues for about 10 years. The flow lasts for about six months every year from November to April. The viscous resin that oozes out hardens into a somewhat translucent mass shining colour that is of a bright collected manually. Dammars are used in spirit varnishes especially those used for paper.

The resin of Canarium strictum Roxb. is used for rheumatism and asthma; the bark is used as a mosquito repellent. The major compounds in the resin are triterpenoids such as. α-Amyrin and β-amyrin, The high content of triterpenoids might contribute to anti-inflammatory effects and give a rationale for the widespread usage of the resin in India.

6. Linaloe (Bursera spp.)

Linaloe (Mexican) is the volatile oil obtained by distillation of wood and berries of two Mexican trees B. penicillata Engl. and B. glabrifolia Engl. The wood contains 7-12% oil while the berries yield only 3%. In fruits the oil is concentrated in the outer pericarp. Linaloe is a clear light coloured liquid consisting of 60-70% linalool, and smaller quantities of linalyl acetate, geraniol, and terpeneol. Linaloe is a highly fragrant oil, widely used in perfumes, transparent soaps, as a flavoring material and a fixative.

B. Edible nuts

1. Java almonds (C. commune Linn). is a tree native to Southeast Asia from Indonesia to New Guinea. The edible nut / kernal can be eaten raw or cooked and is prepared in a variety of ways. In its area of origin it is highly valued as a traditional snack. The nuts can be used as a substitute for the common almond.

Nuts can be ground into a powder and used to make bread. The seeds are used in a wide variety of dishes by the local people. The seed contains about 72% oil, 13% protein and 7% starch. Interestingly, it has been found that adding a strained emulsion of the crushed, ripe kernels to cows milk will make the milk much more digestible when fed to babies and infants. An edible oil is obtained from the seed which is preferred to coconut oil by local people where Java Almond is traditionally grown and consumed.

2. Pili nut, (Canarium ovatum),This tree is native to the Philippines, where the pili nut has traditionally been a major source of fat and protein in the diet. The uncooked nuts are used as a laxative, though the cooked nuts are easily digestible. The sweet oil is used in confectionaries. Roasted and powdered pili nuts are sometimes used to extend chocolate.

Mammen Daniel