Phytochemical characterization of oleogum resins from Commiphora species of socotra island

Socotra (Yemen), a large island in the Indian Ocean, is a biodiversity hotspot known for its unique flora and fauna. Species belonging to the genus Commiphora Jacq. (Burseraceae) stands out, as it includes resin-producing plants valued for their phytochemical richness [ 1 ]. Despite the island’s ecological value, the oleogum resins of Commiphora species from Socotra remain poorly studied. This research investigates resins from Socotran taxa ( C. kua (R.Br. ex Royle) Vollesen, C. ornifolia (Balf.f.) J.B.Gillett, C. planifrons Engl., C. parvifolia Engl., and C. socotrana Engl.) aiming to explore their phytochemical profiles. Volatile compounds were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) [ 2 ], while non-volatile constituents were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The volatile fractions are rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with chemotaxonomic significance. In the non-volatile fraction, we identified lignans, including yangambin, a furofuran lignan known for its vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory properties [ 3 ] [ 4 ]. Yangambin, previously reported in Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari [ 5 ] is found here for the first time in Socotran species. This finding expands the known chemical diversity of the genus and suggests that these plants may produce bioactive compounds of pharmaceutical interest. The occurrence of lignans in the resins highlights the potential of Socotran Commiphora species as novel sources of secondary metabolites with possible pharmacological applications. Further studies will aim to isolate and characterize additional compounds, and to evaluate their biological activities. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany