Phytochemical study of Boswellia dalzielii oleo-gum resin and evaluation of its biological properties.

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]