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Here we report for the first time the entire 13C-NMR spectral assignments of 119 (out of 127) triterpenoids from the oleo-gum resins of the medicinally important genus Boswellia , which includes the culturally highly valuable Frankincense species. The complete 13C-NMR resonances of these triterpenoids isolated between 1998 and 2024 and their biological activities are presented. 13C-NMR spectroscopy is a highly powerful tool for the characterization of these bioactive natural products. The compounds are arranged according to their skeletons, i.e., ursane, oleanane, lupane, dammarane, and tirucallane triterpenes. This review will be a future reference for the identification of these compounds, which have key medicinal properties in the areas of cytotoxicity and inflammation. This review covers the current pharmacology and complete and unambiguous 13C-NMR spectral assignments of 119 triterpenes (out of 127) from the genus Boswellia from 1998 to 2024. The oleo-gum resins of Boswellia species have considerable economic, cultural, and medicinal value, and the 13C NMR data of the major triterpene components, divided into classes, are described here. This will allow their rapid identification, which will be a useful tool in quality control of Frankincense and other Boswellia species [Display omitted] • The gum resins of Boswellia are rich in triterpenes of different skeletons. • Boswellia sacra produces the ancient and culturally valuable oleo-gum resin Frankincense with considerable economic and medicnal value. • The complete 13C-NMR data of 119 triterpenoids from this genus are described. • The main pharmacological activities of these natural products are highlighted. • This review will aid the identification and quality control of these gum resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boswellia dalzielii is a resin-producing tree endemic to West and Central Africa, used by local populations for various medicinal purposes. In this study, B. dalzielii gum resin was analyzed by GC-MS and UHPLC-MS to identify and quantify volatile and non-volatile compounds. Its main volatile constituents were α-pinene (54.9%), followed by α-thujene (4.4%) and α-phellandren-8-ol (4.0%). Pentacyclic triterpenoids such as β-boswellic acids and their derivatives were quantified by UHPLC-MS and their content was shown to reach around 22% of the gum resin. Since some of the volatile and non-volatile compounds identified in this work are known to possess biological effects, the bioactivities of B. dalzielii ethanolic extract, essential oil, as well as fractions of the oil and extract were evaluated. Some of these samples exhibited interesting anti-inflammatory properties, and their antioxidant, anti-ageing and skin-bleaching activities were also tested. Boswellia dalzielli gum resin was by GC-MS and UHPLC-MS to identify and quantify its volatile constituents and triterpenic acids. Meanwhile, the biological activities of this material was evaluated. [Display omitted] • The composition of Boswellia dalzielli gum resin was investigated both by GC-MS and UHPLC-MS. • Several triterpenic acids of Boswellia dalzielli were quantified by UHPLC-MS. • The biological activities (anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-ageing and skin-bleaching activities) of Boswellia dalzielli gum resin extracts were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new lupane-type triterpene, 3α-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-24-oic acid, was isolated from the methanolic extract of “Erytrean-type” resin of commercial frankincense together with the known 3α-hydroxy-olean-12-en-24-oic acid (α-boswellic acid) and 3α-hydroxy-urs-12-en-24-oic acid (β-boswellic acid). Their structures were characterized on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence including two dimensional NMR experiments and mass spectrometric techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]