{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T17:39:06Z","timestamp":1772645946397,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737590400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"JSPS KAKENHI","award":["21KK0102"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["21KK0102"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The resin of Commiphora africana and the resin and bark of Boswellia papyrifera play versatile roles in traditional Sudanese culture, including use in inhalation therapy, liquid remedies, and as chewing gum. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the volatile compounds in these materials using various extraction methods and assess their biological activities. Extraction methods included MonoTrap solid-phase microextraction, smoke solvent trapping, and acetone immersion. Gas chromatography\u2212mass spectrometry analysis of MonoTrap extracts identified highly volatile compounds, while smoke extracts contained compounds with lower volatility. Solvent immersion captured a broader range of compounds. The resin of C. africana was rich in limonene, verbenone, and \u03b2-selinene, whereas B. papyrifera extracts contained octyl acetate, trans-nerolidol, and nerolidol isobutyrate as major compounds. Biological assays showed C. africana smoke extract inhibited tyrosinase activity, with p-cymene and S-limonene acting as competitive inhibitors. It also inhibited the growth of cancer cells, A549 and MIA Paca-2, while solvent extracts from both resins inhibited all tested cell lines. Further, the acetone extracts exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. These results highlight the differences in chemical composition between the two species, the impact of extraction methods, and the therapeutic potential of C. africana and B. papyrifera as sources of bioactive compounds.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30030499","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]],"date-time":"2025-01-23T05:49:54Z","timestamp":1737611394000},"page":"499","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Exploring Volatiles and Biological Effects of Commiphora africana and Boswellia papyrifera Incense"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5418-4894","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sara A.","family":"Eltigani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health Sciences, Ahfad University for Women, Arda Street, Omdurman 14411, Sudan"},{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chisato","family":"Ohta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ryota","family":"Nakamiya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2862-5673","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mizuki","family":"Yokono","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Technical Department, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8550, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6654-4148","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tomohiro","family":"Bito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kenji","family":"Takahashi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6982-8522","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yukinori","family":"Yabuta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7178-2271","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed M.","family":"Eltayeb","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North 14413, Sudan"},{"name":"International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Toshio","family":"Ohta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1062-2263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Atsushi","family":"Ishihara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural, Life, Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan"},{"name":"International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori 680-0001, Japan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2008.07.050","article-title":"Validation of smoke inhalation therapy to treat microbial infections","volume":"119","author":"Braithwaite","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mohieldin, E.A.M., Muddathir, A.M., and Mitsunaga, T. (2017). Inhibitory activities of selected Sudanese medicinal plants on Porphyromonas gingivalis and matrix metalloproteinase-9 and isolation of bioactive compounds from Combretum hartmannianum (Schweinf) bark. BMC Complement. Med. Ther., 17.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-017-1735-y"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., and Cunningham, A.B. (1996). Zulu Medicinal Plants: An Inventory, University of Natal Press."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Van Wyk, B.E., Van Oudshoorn, B., and Gericke, N. (1997). Medicinal Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Mirghani, I., and Nageeb, I. (2007). Local innovations and indigenous practices from the Sudan the hidden power of the poor. Promoting Local Innovation in Sudan, Prolinnova."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"442","article-title":"Burseraceae","volume":"Volume 3","author":"Hedberg","year":"1989","journal-title":"Flora of Ethiopia"},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Milne-Redhead, E. (2003). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Taylor & Francis."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1002\/ffj.1166","article-title":"Essential oils of some Boswellia spp., Myrrh and Opopanax","volume":"18","author":"Demirci","year":"2003","journal-title":"Flavour Fragr. J."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Al Safi, A. (2006). Traditional Sudanese Medicine: A Primer for Health Care Providers, Researchers, and Students, AZZA House."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"490","DOI":"10.1111\/apt.12397","article-title":"Randomized clinical trial: A herbal preparation of myrrh, chamomile, and coffee charcoal compared with mesalazine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis\u2014A double-blind, double-dummy study","volume":"38","author":"Langhorst","year":"2013","journal-title":"Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"163","article-title":"Components, therapeutic value, and uses of myrrh","volume":"58","author":"Rashed","year":"2003","journal-title":"Pharmazie"},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"360","article-title":"Chemical constituents from resin of Commiphora species and their biological activities","volume":"20","author":"Shen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Nat. Prod. Res. Dev."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"263","article-title":"Burns treatment in ancient times","volume":"66","year":"2013","journal-title":"Med. Pregl."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alraddadi, B.G., and Shin, H.-J. (2022). Biochemical properties and cosmetic uses of Commiphora myrrha and Boswellia serrata. Cosmetics, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics9060119"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"7","article-title":"Inter-tree variation in the chemical composition of Boswellia papyrifera oleo-gum-resin","volume":"17","author":"DeCarlo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat. Prod. Commun."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.4314\/bcse.v36i2.13","article-title":"Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of essential oils from resin of Commiphora species","volume":"36","author":"Dinku","year":"2022","journal-title":"Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S140","DOI":"10.1301\/nr.2007.dec.S140-S146","article-title":"Inflammatory mechanisms: The molecular basis of inflammation and disease","volume":"65","author":"Libby","year":"2007","journal-title":"Nutr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"540","DOI":"10.1002\/cbdv.200890051","article-title":"Bioactive constituents of myrrh and frankincense, two simultaneously prescribed gum resins in Chinese traditional medicine","volume":"5","author":"Shen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Chem. Biodivers."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1128\/mr.50.4.353-380.1986","article-title":"Role of Streptococcus mutans in human dental decay","volume":"50","author":"Loesche","year":"1989","journal-title":"Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.3390\/nu2030290","article-title":"Streptococcus mutans, caries and simulation models","volume":"2","author":"Forssten","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Sato, A., Sotomaru, K., and Takeda, M.A. (2019, September 25). A Novel Approach for Aroma Components Analysis Using a Monolithic Hybrid Adsorbent as a New Generation Medium. \u201cMonoTrap\u201d; (2011-04-25)\/[2013-08-21]; Saitama, Japan. Available online: https:\/\/www.glsciences.eu\/monotrap\/poster_monotrap_ISEO2009.pdf."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1002\/ffj.1875","article-title":"Factors affecting secondary metabolite production in plants: Volatile components and essential oils","volume":"23","author":"Figueiredo","year":"2008","journal-title":"Flavour Frag. J."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"665","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apjtb.2016.06.001","article-title":"Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory potentials and phytochemical profile of Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (Burseraceae) and Loeseneriella africana (Willd.) (Celastraceae) stem leaves extracts","volume":"6","author":"Meda","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e109398","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0109398","article-title":"Dual effects of Alpha-arbutin on monophenolase and diphenolase activities of mushroom tyrosinase","volume":"9","author":"Qin","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3365","DOI":"10.18632\/aging.204038","article-title":"Wild type and gain of function mutant TP53 can regulate the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, EGFR\/Ras\/Raf\/MEK, and PI3K\/mTORC1\/GSK-3 pathway inhibitors, nutraceuticals and alter metabolic properties","volume":"14","author":"McCubrey","year":"2022","journal-title":"Aging"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.3892\/etm.2012.497","article-title":"Overexpression of the miR-34 family suppresses invasive growth of malignant melanoma with the wild-type p53 gene","volume":"3","author":"Yamazaki","year":"2012","journal-title":"Exp. Ther. Med."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pustovalova, M., Alhaddad, L., Smetanina, N., Chigasova, A., Blokhina, T., Chuprov-Netochin, R., Osipov, A.N., and Leonov, S. (2020). The p53\u201353BP1-related survival of A549 and H1299 human lung cancer cells after multifractionated radiotherapy demonstrated different response to additional acute X-ray exposure. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 21.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms21093342"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gendis.2018.07.002","article-title":"Natural products targeting the p53-MDM2 pathway and mutant p53: Recent advances and implications in cancer medicine","volume":"5","author":"Qin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Genes Dis."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4957","DOI":"10.1002\/ptr.7125","article-title":"Anticancer activity of limonene: A systematic review of target signaling pathways","volume":"35","author":"Carvalho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Phtyther. Res."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"236","article-title":"Comparative study of genotoxic, antigenotoxic and cytotoxic activities of monoterpenes camphor, eucalyptol and thujone in cacteria and mammalian cells","volume":"242","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chem. Biol. Interact."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.1080\/10412905.2022.2107101","article-title":"Cytotoxic activity and, antioxidant effects of Origanum onites essential oil and its two major contents, carvacrol and p-cymene on human colorectal (HCT116) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines","volume":"34","author":"Becer","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Essent. Oil Res."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"23","article-title":"Antimycobacterial activity, cytotoxicity and phytochemical screening of organic extracts of Commiphora africana stem bark from Kenya","volume":"2","author":"Mwangi","year":"2020","journal-title":"EAS J. Pharm. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kamran, S., Sinniah, A., Abdulghani, M.A.M., and Alshawsh, M.A. (2022). Therapeutic Potential of Certain Terpenoids as Anticancer Agents: A Scoping Review. Cancers, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers14051100"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1833","DOI":"10.2147\/OTT.S155716","article-title":"D-limonene exhibits antitumor activity by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer","volume":"11","author":"Yu","year":"2018","journal-title":"OncoTargets Ther."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2017.00105","article-title":"\u03b2-Elemene: Mechanistic studies on cancer cell interaction and its chemosensitization effect","volume":"8","author":"Jiang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"881","DOI":"10.1007\/s00018-005-5017-3","article-title":"Antitumor effect of \u03b2-elemene in non-small-cell lung cancer cells is mediated via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death","volume":"62","author":"Wang","year":"2005","journal-title":"Cell Mol. Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112660","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phytochem.2021.112660","article-title":"Biosynthetic diversity in triterpene cyclization within the Boswellia genus","volume":"184","author":"Khan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Phytochemistry"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Trivedi, V.L., Soni, R., Dhyani, P., Sati, P., Tejada, S., Sureda, A., Setzer, W.N., Razis, A.F.A., Modu, B., and Butnariu, M. (2023). Anti-cancer properties of boswellic acids: Mechanism of action as anti-cancerous agent. Front. Pharmacol., 14.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2023.1187181"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4303","DOI":"10.1007\/s00203-021-02377-5","article-title":"Evaluation of the antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activity of the sesquiterpene nerolidol","volume":"203","author":"Rocha","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"588","DOI":"10.1515\/znc-2010-9-1009","article-title":"Antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis and its major components against oral pathogens","volume":"65","author":"Bernardes","year":"2010","journal-title":"Z. Naturforsch."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archoralbio.2018.01.009","article-title":"Inhibitory effects of \u03b2-caryophyllene on Streptococcus mutans biofilm","volume":"88","author":"Yoo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch. Oral Biol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Park, B.I., Kim, B.S., Kim, K.J., and You, Y.O. (2019). Sabinene suppresses growth, biofilm formation, and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans by inhibiting cariogenic virulence factors. J. Oral Microbiol., 11.","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2019.1632101"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Han, Y., Sun, Z., and Chen, W. (2019). Antimicrobial susceptibility and antibacterial mechanism of limonene against Listeria monocytogenes. Molecules, 25.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25010033"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2006.07.051","article-title":"Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of three Satureja species growing in Tanzania","volume":"103","author":"Vagionas","year":"2007","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ivanov, M., Kannan, A., Stojkovi\u0107, D.S., Glamo\u010dlija, J., Calhelha, R.C., Ferreira, I.C.F.R., Sanglard, D., and Sokovi\u0107, M. (2021). Camphor and eucalyptol-anticandidal spectrum, antivirulence effect, efflux pumps interference and cytotoxicity. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22020483"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sieniawska, E., Sawicki, R., Golus, J., Swatko-Ossor, M., Ginalska, G., and Skalicka-Wozniak, K. (2018). Nigella damascena L. essential oil-a valuable source of \u03b2-elemene for antimicrobial testing. Molecules, 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules23020256"},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"523","article-title":"Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of three essential oils from Curcuma wenyujin","volume":"8","author":"Zhu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nat. Prod. Commun."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131999","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molstruc.2021.131999","article-title":"Individual stereoisomers of verbenol and verbenone express bioactive features","volume":"1251","author":"Kovalenko","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Mol. Struct."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1895","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phytochem.2008.03.005","article-title":"Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of the Amazon Guatteriopsis species","volume":"69","author":"Costa","year":"2008","journal-title":"Phytochemistry"},{"key":"ref_50","first-page":"143","article-title":"Antimicrobial activity of nerolidol and its derivatives against airborne microbes and further biological activities","volume":"10","author":"Krist","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nat. Prod. Commun."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micres.2016.12.003","article-title":"Phytochemicals for human disease: An update on plant-derived compounds antibacterial activity","volume":"196","author":"Barbieri","year":"2017","journal-title":"Microbiol. Res."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2017.10.021","article-title":"Hybrid combinations containing natural products and antimicrobial drugs that interfere with bacterial and fungal biofilms","volume":"37","author":"Zacchino","year":"2017","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"654","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2016.03.001","article-title":"A clerodane diterpene from Polyalthia longifolia as a modifying agent of the resistance of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus","volume":"23","author":"Gupta","year":"2016","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbiosc.2021.12.016","article-title":"Chemicals behind the use of Strombus tricornis opercula in traditional Sudanese perfumery and medicine","volume":"133","author":"Eltigani","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Biosci. Bioengineer."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1093\/bbb\/zbae006","article-title":"Inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells by strobilurins isolated from mushrooms and their synthetic analogues","volume":"88","author":"Tanaka","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem."}],"container-title":["Molecules"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/3\/499\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:34:24Z","timestamp":1759919664000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/30\/3\/499"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]]},"references-count":55,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["molecules30030499"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules30030499","relation":{},"ISSN":["1420-3049"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1420-3049","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,23]]}}}