Report on the Malungo expedition to the Erepecuru river, Oriximiná, Brazil. Part I: is there a difference between black and white breu?

Amazonian medicinal smokes: Chemical analysis of Burseraceae pitch (breu) oleoresin smokes and insights into their use on headache

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Latin American Traditional Medicine, the use of Burseraceae oleoresins for headache relief is widespread. In the quilombola (maroon) communities of the municipality of Oriximiná, Pará State, Brazil, Burseraceae oleoresins are burned as incenses to treat headache; an effect attained by inhaling the smokes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to investigate the scientific rationale behind the use of Burseraceae pitch oleoresin smokes on headache by identifying its chemical constituents and discussing whether they could be beneficial for headache treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two samples of pitch oleoresins were purchased from Amazonian public markets; one of them marketed as "breu preto" (black pitch), and the other as "breu branco" (white pitch). The smoke headspaces produced upon burning these oleoresins were collected and analysed by GC-MS. For comparative purposes, the triterpenoid fingerprints of the oleoresins' dichloromethane extracts and profiles of the essential oils were also obtained by GC-MS - and GC-FID, in the case of the essential oils.

RESULTS

A total of 32 compounds were detected in black and white pitch oleoresin smokes. All smoke headspaces of the pitch oleoresins shared the presence of volatile terpenoids (e.g., α-terpineol) and triterpenoids (e.g., α-amyrin, β-amyrin, α-amyrone, and β-amyrone). These compounds were also present in the crude resins and could potentially be responsible for anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and analgesic effects on headache.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacological data on the terpenoids detected in the Burseraceae pitch smokes strongly support their traditional use for headache, but their actual effects upon inhalation have yet to be determined.

Quali-Quantitative Characterization of Volatile and Non-Volatile Compounds in Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand Resin by GC-MS Validated Method, GC-FID and HPLC-HRMS2

Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand (PH) trees are endemic to the tropical region of South America, mostly Brazil. Antibacterial, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-hyperlipidemic/anti-hypercholesterolemic effects were reported for its resinous exudate Protiumheptaphyllum resin (PHR). This work aims to provide a qualitative and quantitative consistent chemical profiling of the major constituents of this resin and two extracts enriched in acid (acidic triterpene concentrated extract, ATCE) and neutral triterpenes (α and β-amyrin concentrated extract, AMCE). GC–MS/GC–FID was used for volatile terpene fraction, a validated GC–MS method was developed for quantification of neutral α and β-amyrin and HPLC–APCI HRMS² was used for acidic triterpenes analysis. The chemical investigation reported 29 molecules, including 14 volatile terpenes, 6 neutral triterpenes and 11 acid triterpenes. The most abundant compounds were α-amyrin (251.28 g kg⁻¹, 123.98 g kg⁻¹ and 556.82 g kg⁻¹ in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively), β-amyrin (172.66 g kg⁻¹, 95.39 g kg⁻¹ and 385.58 g kg⁻¹ in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively), 3-oxo-tirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid (80.64 g kg⁻¹, 157.10 g kg⁻¹ and 15.31 g kg⁻¹ in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively) and 3α-hydroxy-tirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (77.71 g kg⁻¹, 130.40 g kg⁻¹ and 11.64 g kg⁻¹ in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively). Results showed specific enrichment of acidic and neutral triterpenoids in the two respective extracts.

Differentiation of black and white pitch (Burseraceae) oleoresins: A mass spectrometry-based chemoethnotaxonomic study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In the quilombola communities of the municipality of Oriximiná (Pará State, Brazil), Protium spp. (Burseraceae) oleoresins are distinguished in black and white pitch. White pitch oleoresins may be superior to black pitch in terms of quality, but the criteria used for their differentiation are fairly subjective.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to provide a scientific rationale for the traditional differentiation of black and white pitch oleoresins based on their non-volatile fraction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Black and white pitch oleoresin samples collected in quilombola territories in Oriximiná were analysed by GC-EI-MS and UPLC-APCI-MS. The feasibility of EI and APCI mass spectrometry-based pattern recognition methods PLS-DA and Random Forest Analysis (RFA) for black and white pitch oleoresins differentiation was demonstrated.

RESULTS

The UPLC-APCI-MS method allowed the separation of 43 triterpenoids. Assessment of the triterpenoid fingerprints by GC-EI-MS led to the tentative identification of ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol as a potential marker for black pitch oleoresins. PLS-DA and RFA applied to the APCI-MS and EI-MS data gave good models for black and white pitch oleoresins classification. The most important ions for the classifications of black pitch oleoresins by APCI-MS/PLS-DA and APCI-MS/RFA likely represented triterpenoid acids.

CONCLUSIONS

The triterpenoid pattern differs between black and white pitch oleoresins. The characteristic presence of ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol and triterpenoids acids in black pitch oleoresins, along with other field observations, suggest that black pitch oleoresins are actually aged white pitch oleoresins.

Development of a gas chromatography method for quantification of triterpenes in the commercial oleoresins from Protium species

Abstract Crude non-volatile oleoresin from Burseraceae species (breu), a non-timber forest product of the Amazon, still lacks methods for its quality control even though its pharmacological activities have been associated to the major triterpenes α-amyrin (αAA), β-amyrin, α-amyrenone, β-amyrenone and lupeol (LU). Its chemical characterization has usually been determined by gas chromatography (GC) using columns with phases of low polarity, which are ineffective in the separation of αAA and LU. The present study aimed to develop a GC method to characterize and quantify triterpenes in commercial breu with good selectivity and resolution. Columns with phases of different polarity (DB-35, DB-1701, DB-17HT and DB-Innowax) were tested, and DB-17HT separated αAA and LU without signal suppression or high retention of other constituents. This column allowed the quantification of breu triterpenes using flame ionization detection and cholesterol as a reference standard. Good similarity between the calibration curves of cholesterol and αAA was verified. Internal and external standardizations led to different (p < 0.05) quantifications, but the latter showed less deviation (RSD ≤ 3%). This work provides a reproducible GC method for the quality control of commercial breu, clearly evidencing the presence of lupeol and allowing the accurate quantification of major triterpenes.

Ethnopharmacological Evaluation of Breu Essential Oils from Protium Species Administered by Inhalation

Background

Breu is an aromatic oleoresin which has been used by Amazonian traditional communities as a remedy for headaches and migraines by burning and inhaling the smoke produced during its combustion. This study evaluated the antinociceptive and sedative activities of formulations containing breu essential oils administered by inhalation.

Methods

Five different formulations (A–E) containing breu essential oils were evaluated for their sedative and antinociceptive activities in mice. They were delivered for 20 minutes using an inhalation chamber coupled with a nebulizer and the air inside was collected by static headspace and analyzed by GC-FID.

Results

All nebulized formulations had similar chemical compositions and major compounds as the original essential oils. None of them resulted in significant increase in response time during the hot plate test. In the formalin test, Formulation E showed a significant inhibition of licking responses in the early (46.8%) and late (60.2%) phases. Formulation B was effective (36.9%) in the first phase and Formulation D (37.9%) in the second. None of the formulations presented sedative effects.

Conclusion

Breu essential oils, when inhaled, may present antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties without sedation. Additionally, nebulization proved to be an efficient method for administration of formulations containing these essential oils.

Chemical Composition, Enantiomeric Distribution, and Antifungal Activity of the Oleoresin Essential Oil of Protium amazonicum from Ecuador

Background:Protium species (Burseraceae) have been used in the treatment of various diseases and conditions such as ulcers and wounds. Methods: The essential oil from the oleoresin of Protium amazonicum was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS, GC-FID, and chiral GC-MS. P. amazonicum oleoresin oil was screened for antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Results: A total of 54 components representing 99.6% of the composition were identified in the oil. The essential oil was dominated by δ-3-carene (47.9%) with lesser quantities of other monoterpenoids α-pinene (4.0%), p-cymene (4.1%), limonene (5.1%), α-terpineol (5.5%) and p-cymen-8-ol (4.8%). Chiral GC-MS revealed most of the monoterpenoids to have a majority of levo enantiomers present with the exceptions of limonene and α-terpineol, which showed a dextro majority. P. amazonicum oleoresin oil showed promising activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC = 156 μg/mL. Conclusions: This account is the first reporting of both the chemical composition and enantiomeric distribution of the oleoresin essential oil of P. amazonicum from Ecuador. The oil was dominated by (−)-δ-3-carene, and this compound, along with other monoterpenoids, likely accounts for the observed antifungal activity of the oil.