Frankincense trees under threat!

[nen888]

..the source of this precious gift by the Magi, Boswellia papyrifera, is now under threat in it's native N.E african region..
USA today says 7% per year of the Ethiopian populations are dying - [Latest World & National News & Headlines - USATODAY.com] and the situation in southern Sudan is also grim - [http://www.tropentag.de/2011/abstracts/links/Abtew_9WFVtIsn.pdf]

The [steam distilled volatile] oil was found to contain monoterpenes (13.1%), sesquiterpenes (1%), and diterpenes
(42.5%). The major components of the oil were duva-3,9,13-trien-1,5α-diol-1-acetate (21.4%), octyl acetate (13.4%), o-methyl anisole (7.6%), naphthalene decahydro-1,1,4a-trimethyl-6-methylene-5-(3-methyl-2-pentenyl) (5.7%), thunbergol (4.1%), phenanthrene-7-ethenyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,10a-dodecahydro-1,1,4a,7-tetramethyl (4.1%), α-pinene (3.1%), sclarene (2.9%), 9-cis-retinal (2.8%), octyl formate (1.4%), verticiol (1.2%) decyl acetate
(1.2%), n-octanol (1.1%).

from http://www.znaturforsch.com/ac/v58c/s58c0230.pdf

..recent studies have found alkaloids in the bark and gum, as well as in Myrrh (Commiphora molmol), but the identities are not confirmed..[Antibacterial activity of oleo-gum resins of Commiphora molmol and Boswellia papyrifera..]

..extracts of the frankincense tree were found in an Iranian study (2010) to enhance spatial learning and memory retention in mice..[http://www.mums.ac.ir/shares/basic_medical/basicmedjou/89/spring/a2.pdf]


Boswellia papyrifera (frankincense) and Commiphora molmol (myrrh) are both in the family Bruseraceae...