title: The essential oil of olibanum.
abstract: The essential oil of the oleogum resin "Olibanum" was prepared by direct steam distillation as well as by steam distillation of an N-hexane extract. Physical and chemical constants of the oil were determined. GC-MS was used for the analysis of the oil. Thirty-three components were identified in the steam distilled oil by their Kováts indices on stabilized OV-1 columns and by mass spectral data. The oil contains 62.1% esters, 15.4% alcohols, 9.9% monoterpene hydrocarbons, and 7.1% diterpenes. Certain minor constituents of the steam distilled oil failed to show up in the oil prepared by steam distillation of the N-hexane extract. Both oils exhibit antimicrobial activity, the activity of the steam distilled oil being higher than that of the oil prepared by steam distillation of the N-hexane extract.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El-Aini Street, 11562 Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Aboutabl
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: El-Zalabani
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: De Pooter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El-Fallaha