The potential of triterpenoids as chemotaxonomic tools to identify and differentiate genuine, adulterated and archaeological balsams

Publication date: June 2019Source: Microchemical Journal, Volume 147Author(s): Blandine Courel, Pierre Adam, Schaeffer PhilippeAbstractPlant exudates have been extensively used in the past for different applications related to their olfactory, physical or medical properties. Their identification in archaeological samples relies, notably, on the characterisation of chemotaxonomic molecular markers but is often hampered by the severe alteration of their typical genuine molecular signature due to ageing. Among these exudates, those recovered from Styrax, Liquidambar and Myroxylon tree species – defined as balsams – have been exploited in the past for their pleasant scent and medical properties. They are characterised by a large variety of aromatic compounds, especially of the cinnamate and benzoate series, which can be used to assess their botanical source. These compound series may, however, be subject to alteration over time during exposure to environmental conditions in the case of archaeological material. As a result, their reliability as chemotaxonomic markers to characterise and discriminate archaeological balsams is problematic and questionable. We have, therefore, carried out a comparative analysis of various extant balsams (Styrax officinalis, S. paralleloneurum, S. tonkinensis, Liquidambar styraciflua, L. orientalis and Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to search for more solid lipid markers. The results revealed that a ...
Source: Microchemical Journal - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research