Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of Boswellia ovalifoliolata essential oils from leaf and bark

We isolated the essential oils from Boswellia ovalifoliolata N.P.Balakr and A.N.Henry using hydrodistillation,identified the obtained compounds using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and studied the photophysical and electrochemical properties using UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.On the basis of GC–MS spectra,38 compounds were identified in the essential oil from leaves and 26 in the oil from bark.The bark oil contained 13.44% b-Farnesene(sesquiterpene),10.45% caryophyllene oxide(sesquiterpene) and 6.6% spathulenol,(2 Z,6 E)-(sesquiterpene alcohol); the leaf oil contained 11.1% spathulenol(sesquiterpene alcohol),9.0% caryophyllene oxide(sesquiterpenoids) and 6.3% decyl acetate(ester).FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones,carboxylic acid,alcohols,esters and ethers in both oil types.UV–visible absorption spectra showed maximum absorbance at 245,290 and 402 nm for bark oil,and 250,285 and 325 nm for leaf.Bark oil showed strong emission with maximum emission wavelength at 456 nm was higher than that of leaf oil at 414 nm.The essential oil had significant anti-inflammatory activity,and the reduction potential of the leaf oil was-0.44 and-0.56 e V for bark.