Natural Products from Burseraceae: Chemical Diversity and Pharmaceutical Potentials

General, Phylogenetic, Biological, and Chemical Aspects of the Burseraceae Family

Juliana de Sousa Figuerêdo, Sidney Gonçalo de Lima — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This review aims to synthesise current knowledge on the phylogenetic, biological and chemical aspects of the Burseraceae family, with emphasis on its ecological relevance, resin production and pharmacological potential, particularly in relation to Protium.

Study Design: Systematic literature review and qualitative meta-synthesis.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Brazil, and considered botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological information published up to August 2025.

Methodology: Scientific information was gathered from ScienceDirect, PubMed, Plataforma Capes and Google Scholar using descriptors related to Burseraceae, medicinal plants, phylogenetic classification, distribution, secondary metabolites, triterpenes, botany, taxonomy, resin, cosmetics and pharmacological activities. Articles were filtered without restrictions on publication period. Peer-reviewed experimental studies and relevant review articles were prioritised, while duplicate records, incomplete publications and studies with unclear methods or insufficiently concise data were excluded.

Results: The review confirms the broad tropical and subtropical distribution of Burseraceae, with notable representation in Neotropical regions and in the Amazon. The family is characterised by resiniferous ducts and aromatic oleoresins that contain volatile monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, as well as fixed triterpenoid constituents. The reviewed studies report biological activities associated with species of the family, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, gastroprotective, antihypertensive, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antimutagenic, larvicidal and cosmetic-related applications. Historical and ethnopharmacological uses of resins, including breu, frankincense and myrrh, further support their cultural and economic importance.

Conclusion: Burseraceae presents relevant botanical, chemical and ethnopharmacological features, particularly through resin-derived terpenoids. Further studies are needed to clarify molecular mechanisms, biosynthetic pathways, ecological adaptations and sustainable applications of these resins.

Pharmacological Potential of Terpenes from the Burseraceae Family

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Terpenes are among the most representative secondary metabolites reported in species of the Burseraceae family and have been associated with diverse biological activities in experimental studies. This chapter reviews the pharmacological potential of Burseraceae-derived terpenes, with emphasis on α- and β-amyrin, antimicrobial activity, and possible synergistic interactions with other plant metabolites. A narrative review approach was used, based on studies addressing the chemical composition and biological evaluation of extracts, essential oils, resins, fractions, and isolated compounds from Burseraceae species. The reviewed evidence indicates that α- and β-amyrin have been investigated mainly for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical models. Reported mechanisms include modulation of inflammatory mediators, cyclooxygenase-related pathways, nuclear factor kappa B signalling, oxidative stress responses, and interactions with cannabinoid and opioid pathways. Terpene-rich extracts and essential oils from genera such as Protium, Commiphora, Boswellia, Bursera, Canarium, and Trattinnickia have also shown antimicrobial effects in experimental assays against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. However, most antimicrobial findings are based on crude extracts, essential oils, or formulation studies, and the active compounds responsible for the observed effects are not always fully identified. The reviewed literature also suggests that interactions between terpenes and other secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and iridoids, may contribute to biological activity. Overall, Burseraceae species represent a relevant source of terpene-containing phytochemical materials with pharmacological potential, but further standardisation, mechanistic investigation, toxicological assessment, and clinical validation are required before therapeutic application can be established.

Phytochemical Studies in Protium heptaphyllum: Species

Patricia e Silva Alves, Maria das Dores Alves de Oliveira — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Protium heptaphyllum is a Burseraceae species recognised for its aromatic resin, traditional medicinal uses, and diverse secondary metabolites. This chapter presents an integrative literature review of the phytochemical profile, biological activities, toxicological evidence, and conservation aspects of this species. The review considered studies addressing chemical characterisation, identification of secondary metabolites, chromatographic analysis, toxicity, biotechnological relevance, and sustainability. The available literature indicates that P. heptaphyllum contains several classes of bioactive compounds, particularly monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and coumarins. Compounds such as α-amyrin, β-amyrin, quercetin, catechin, and scopoletin have been associated with reported biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, gastroprotective, and cytotoxic effects in experimental models. However, most available evidence is preclinical, and clinical validation remains limited. Toxicological studies suggest that crude resin may show low acute lethality, whereas isolated amyrin mixtures require further safety evaluation because sub-lethal tissue alterations have been reported in experimental animals. The chemical composition of extracts may vary according to the plant part, extraction method, and environmental conditions, reinforcing the need for standardisation. The growing use of the resin also raises conservation concerns, especially where extraction is not supported by sustainable management practices. Overall, P. heptaphyllum represents a relevant species for phytochemical and pharmacological research, but its safe and sustainable use depends on further toxicological studies, improved extract standardisation, responsible management, and the integration of scientific knowledge with conservation strategies.

Non-volatile Resin Compounds: Isolation, Characterization and Pharmacological Validation

Francisco das Chagas Lima Pinto, Julio Manoel Andrade Oliveira — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Protium heptaphyllum is a Burseraceae species widely associated with resinous exudates that contain non-volatile secondary metabolites, particularly triterpenoids. This chapter reviews published studies on the isolation, characterisation, and pharmacological evaluation of non-volatile resin compounds from P. heptaphyllum. Literature information was compiled from PubMed, SciFinder, and ScienceDirect for the period 1995–2025. From an initial set of 116 analysed scientific articles, 30 publications were considered relevant to non-volatile resin constituents, including reviews, phytochemical studies, combined phytochemical and pharmacological investigations, and pharmacological studies. The reported phytochemical evidence indicates that the resin is mainly characterised by pentacyclic and tetracyclic triterpenoids, with frequent occurrence of α-amyrin and β-amyrin, either as isolated components or as binary mixtures. Other compounds reported include brein, maniladiol, amyrone derivatives, lupeone, lupeol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, and tirucallane-type triterpenes. Characterisation has been performed mainly by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, including GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR, IR, and UV analyses. Pharmacological studies summarised in the manuscript describe preclinical or cell-based evidence for anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, analgesic, antipruritic, anxiolytic, antidepressant-like, antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, antifungal, and anti-obesity-related effects. Overall, the available literature supports the relevance of P. heptaphyllum resin as a source of chemically diverse triterpenoids with biological activity. However, the evidence remains largely preclinical, and further standardised studies are required to clarify composition, mechanisms of action, safety, and translational potential.

From Traditional Knowledge to Modern Phytotherapy: Scientific Evidence and Bioactive Compounds of the Burseraceae Family

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This systematic review examines the relationship between traditional medicinal uses of species in the Burseraceae family and the phytochemical and pharmacological evidence reported for those species.

Study Design: A qualitative systematic review was undertaken with emphasis on the interface between ethnobotanical knowledge, phytochemical composition and experimentally evaluated biological activity.

Methodology: Independent searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect and SciELO using the terms “Burseraceae” AND “Ethnopharmacology” for records published between 2016 and 2026. Eligible studies were required to report Burseraceae species with medicinal applications and to describe either bioactive compounds or experimentally assessed biological activities linked to traditional use. Narrative reviews, editorials, conference abstracts, taxonomic, ecological or agronomic studies without biological evaluation, and studies lacking information on plant part or chemical composition were excluded.

Results: Seventy-one records were retrieved, of which 18 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The genera Protium, Commiphora, Canarium and Boswellia were most frequently represented. Resins and oleoresins were prominent matrices, although leaves, bark and essential oils were also investigated. Anti-inflammatory activity was the most commonly reported biological effect, followed by antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective and wound-healing activities. Recurrent compounds included pentacyclic triterpenes, particularly α- and β-amyrin and boswellic acids, together with monoterpenes such as α-pinene, p-cymene and 1,8-cineole, as well as phenolic compounds and flavonoids.

Conclusion: The reviewed evidence indicates a consistent, although not definitive, correspondence between several traditional uses of Burseraceae species and experimentally reported activities. These findings support further phytochemical, mechanistic, toxicological and clinical investigations, alongside conservation measures and ethical recognition of traditional knowledge.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil and Hydrolate of Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand (Burseraceae) Resin

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the volatile chemical composition of the essential oil and hydrolate obtained from the resin of Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand (Burseraceae). Resin collected from material originating in Maranhão, Brazil, was subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The process yielded 0.9% essential oil, and both the oily fraction and the corresponding hydrolate were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The essential oil was characterised mainly by oxygenated monoterpenes, with α-terpineol (37.00%) as the predominant constituent, followed by carvone (10.85%), 1,8-cineole (9.24%), p-cymen-8-ol (7.75%), and trans-carveol (6.04%). The hydrolate also showed a predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes and related compounds, with α-terpineol (23.25%), p-cymen-α-ol (10.74%), carvone (9.12%), trans-carveol (7.43%), and 1,8-cineole (6.85%) among the main constituents. Several compounds were detected in both fractions, indicating partial partitioning during hydrodistillation, whereas other constituents occurred preferentially in either the essential oil or the hydrolate. The results demonstrate that the hydrolate is chemically distinct from the essential oil and should not be regarded simply as a diluted aqueous by-product. Instead, it represents a separate volatile fraction enriched in more polar constituents. These findings contribute to the phytochemical characterisation of P. heptaphyllum resin and provide comparative information on the distribution of volatile compounds between its essential oil and hydrolate.