Available online at www.derpharmachemica.com Scholars Research Library Der Pharma Chemica, 2013, 5(2):133-138 (http://derpharmachemica.com/archive.html) ISSN 0975-413X CODEN (USA): PCHHAX 133 www.scholarsresearchlibrary.com Tetraterpenyl esters from the oleo-resin of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. Mohd. Shuaib a,b , Mohd. Ali a * and Kamran J. Naquvi a a Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India b Kalka Institute for Research & Advanced Studies, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The phytochemical investigation of the oleo-resin of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. furnished with the isolation of three new tetraterpenyl esters namely 2,6,10,14,19,23,31-heptamethyl-27-methylene-dotriacos-(all Z)- 12,14,16,18-tetraen-11β-ol-7β-olyl salicylate (3), 2,6,10,14,19,23,31-heptamethyl-27-methylene-dotriacont-(all Z)- 1,12,14,16,18,27(39)-hexaen-3β,4β,5β,11β-tetraolyl-3β-salicyl-4,5,11-triacetate (4), and (all Z)-2,6,10,14,19,23,31- heptamethyl dotriacont-(all Z)-12,14,16,18,27(39)-pentaen-7β,11β-diolyl-7β-vanillyl-11β-acetate (5) and two aliphatic esters identified as n-dodecanyl myristate 1 and henetriacosanyl laurate 2. The structures of all the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis. Keywords: Commiphora genus, myrrh, schizogenous cavities, tetraterpenic esters. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. (Burseraceae) is a small tree which grows in small sandy and rocky regions of Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Saudi Arabia. The schizogenous cavities of the stem and branches of this tree produce a scented oleo-resin which is known as myrrh. It is imported into India since long time and used in perfumery as food additive, fragrance, incense, antiseptic, astringent, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and for embalming. It is an ingredient of toothpastes, mouthwashes and dentifrices. Myrrh tincture is useful in menstrual disorders and chlorosis. In China, it is prescribed to treat wounds, inflammation and menstrual pain due to blood stagnation [1]. Cadinenes, calamenes, triacont-1-ene [2], commiphoric acids, furanosesquiterpenoids [3-10], eudesmol and triterpenoids [11] and volatile oil [12] have been reported from the oleo-resin of C. myrrha. This paper describes the isolation and the characterization of the tetraterpenyl and fatty esters from the oleo-resin obtained from the Khari Baoli market of Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS General experimental techniques Melting points were determined on a Perfit melting apparatus (Haryana, India) and are uncurrected. UV spectra were measured with a Lambda Bio 20 spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer-Rotkreuz, Switzerland) in methanol. Infra red spectra were recorded on Bio-Rad FTIR 5000 (FTS 135, Kawloon, Hong Kong) spectrophotometer using KBr pellets; γ max values are given in cm -1 . 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra were screened on Avance DRX 400, Bruker spectrospin 400 and 100 MHz instruments (Karlesruthe, Germany) using TMS as an internal standard. Mass spectra were scanned by effecting FAB ionization at 70 eV on a JEOL-JMS-DX 303 spectrometer (Japan) equipped with direct inlet probe system. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel (60-120 mesh; Qualigen, Mumbai, India). TLC was run on silica gel G (Qualigen). Spots were visualised by exposing to iodine vapours, UV radiation, and spraying with ceric sulphate.