Abstract:
The volatile fractions from the bark of eight species of Mexican Bursera were obtained using steam distillation and were subjected to tandem GC-MS analysis for identification of the main constituents. The most abundant components of steam volatiles were monoterpenoids from which a-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-thujene, linalool and limonene were most frequently isolated. A series of sesquiterpenes and long-chain hydrocarbons were isolated and identified from the barks of some of the studied species. Some volatiles were assayed for anti -inflammatory activity using the TPA-induced ear edema bioassay in mice. The volatile fraction from Bursera lancifolia was about half as active as indomethacin.