Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia
Frankincense is an oleo-gum-resin collected from wild <i>Boswellia</i> spp. trees, and widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, incense, and other industries. <i>Boswellia rivae</i>, growing in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, is one source of frankincense, but is litt...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10/2024 |
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| author | Anjanette DeCarlo Stephen Johnson Abdinasir Abdikadir Prabodh Satyal Ambika Poudel William N. Setzer |
| author_facet | Anjanette DeCarlo Stephen Johnson Abdinasir Abdikadir Prabodh Satyal Ambika Poudel William N. Setzer |
| author_sort | Anjanette DeCarlo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Frankincense is an oleo-gum-resin collected from wild <i>Boswellia</i> spp. trees, and widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, incense, and other industries. <i>Boswellia rivae</i>, growing in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, is one source of frankincense, but is little-commercialized compared to species such as <i>B. sacra</i>, <i>B. frereana</i>, and <i>B. papyrifera</i>. In this study, we examine the resin essential oil chemistry and harvesting systems of <i>B. rivae</i> in order to evaluate its potential for increased trade and potential positive livelihood benefits. <i>Boswellia rivae</i> produces an essential oil rich in α-thujene (0.1–12.4%), α-pinene (5.5–56.4%), β-pinene (0.3–13.0%), δ-3-carene (0.1–31.5%), <i>p</i>-cymene (1.4–31.2%), limonene (1.8–37.3%), β-phellandrene (tr-5.6%), <i>trans</i>-pinocarveol (0.1–5.0%), <i>trans</i>-verbenol (0.1–11.2%), and <i>trans</i>-β-elemene (0–5.7%), similar to major commercial species, although it is difficult to detect mixing of <i>B. rivae</i> and <i>Commiphora africana</i> resins from chemistry alone. The <i>B. rivae</i> trees are not actively tapped, so resin collection has a neutral impact on the health of the trees, and resin production is unaffected by drought. Consequently, collecting resins acts as a key income supplementing livestock herding, as well as a safety net protecting pastoral communities from the severe negative effects of climate change-exacerbated drought on livestock. Therefore, <i>Boswellia rivae</i> is well positioned chemically, ecologically, and socially to support expanded trade. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:23:44Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:23:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c002f6b9f2ae4194ae6de12b9e5ab60d2023-11-18T02:56:32ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-05-011210202410.3390/plants12102024Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern EthiopiaAnjanette DeCarlo0Stephen Johnson1Abdinasir Abdikadir2Prabodh Satyal3Ambika Poudel4William N. Setzer5The Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USAFairSource Botanicals, LLC, 560 Fox Drive #643, Fox Island, WA 98333, USASomali Region Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Institute, Jigjiga P.O. Box 1020, EthiopiaThe Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USAThe Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USAThe Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USAFrankincense is an oleo-gum-resin collected from wild <i>Boswellia</i> spp. trees, and widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, incense, and other industries. <i>Boswellia rivae</i>, growing in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, is one source of frankincense, but is little-commercialized compared to species such as <i>B. sacra</i>, <i>B. frereana</i>, and <i>B. papyrifera</i>. In this study, we examine the resin essential oil chemistry and harvesting systems of <i>B. rivae</i> in order to evaluate its potential for increased trade and potential positive livelihood benefits. <i>Boswellia rivae</i> produces an essential oil rich in α-thujene (0.1–12.4%), α-pinene (5.5–56.4%), β-pinene (0.3–13.0%), δ-3-carene (0.1–31.5%), <i>p</i>-cymene (1.4–31.2%), limonene (1.8–37.3%), β-phellandrene (tr-5.6%), <i>trans</i>-pinocarveol (0.1–5.0%), <i>trans</i>-verbenol (0.1–11.2%), and <i>trans</i>-β-elemene (0–5.7%), similar to major commercial species, although it is difficult to detect mixing of <i>B. rivae</i> and <i>Commiphora africana</i> resins from chemistry alone. The <i>B. rivae</i> trees are not actively tapped, so resin collection has a neutral impact on the health of the trees, and resin production is unaffected by drought. Consequently, collecting resins acts as a key income supplementing livestock herding, as well as a safety net protecting pastoral communities from the severe negative effects of climate change-exacerbated drought on livestock. Therefore, <i>Boswellia rivae</i> is well positioned chemically, ecologically, and socially to support expanded trade.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10/2024<i>Boswellia rivae</i>chemical compositionrural livelihoodsfrankincense<i>Commiphora africana</i>Ogaden |
| spellingShingle | Anjanette DeCarlo Stephen Johnson Abdinasir Abdikadir Prabodh Satyal Ambika Poudel William N. Setzer Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia Plants <i>Boswellia rivae</i> chemical composition rural livelihoods frankincense <i>Commiphora africana</i> Ogaden |
| title | Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia |
| title_full | Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia |
| title_short | Evaluating the Potential of <i>Boswellia rivae</i> to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia |
| title_sort | evaluating the potential of i boswellia rivae i to provide sustainable livelihood benefits in eastern ethiopia |
| topic | <i>Boswellia rivae</i> chemical composition rural livelihoods frankincense <i>Commiphora africana</i> Ogaden |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/10/2024 |
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