title: Identification of phenolic acids and inositols in balms and tissues from an Egyptian mummy.
abstract: A number of samples taken from an Egyptian mummy (ca. 100 B.C.) from the Guimet Museum in Lyon have been analyzed by GC-MS. Derivatives of aromatic acids (hydroxyhydrocinnamic, vanillic, protocatechuic and gallic acids) and inositols (non-methylated and mono-O-methyl) have been found among the constituents of extracts prepared by methanolysis and trimethylsilylation. From the reported electron impact mass spectra, ion sets where proposed for a sensitive and selective profiling of these selected compounds by mass fragmentometry. The source of gallic acid and inositol was found to be a vegetable tannin, an ingredient which was not previously known to be used for mummification in ancient Egypt. The nature and abundance ratios of the detected inositols also appeared to be a promising criterion to further investigate the botanical source of the tannin employed.
authors.affiliation: Letiam IUT d'Orsay, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mejanelle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bleton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goursaud
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tchapla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004534:Egypt; D004615:Embalming; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis*; D007294:Inositol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D008745:Methylation; D009106:Mummies; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D013634:Tannins; D014297:Trimethylsilyl Compounds; D007294:Inositol