Study of a Sample of Frankincense from Vetchany Gorod of Ancient Vladimir

The paper presents the results of research performed at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute on a sample of frankincense found in 1993 during excavations in the eastern part of the historic core of the city of Vladimir known as Vetchany Gorod (Decayed Town), currently part of the collection of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture State Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural, and Art Museum-Reserve. Identification of bioactive substances of frankincense in the museum sample by European Pharmacopoeia methods did not detect the presence of boswellic acids and their derivatives, which are characteristic of frankincense. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) examination of the fragment of museum frankincense detected compounds present in modern frankincense, amyrenones and amyrins, and thermal decomposition products but not the primary biomarkers—boswellic acids and their derivatives. GC/MS analysis of a sample of modern frankincense after thermal treatment that simulated the process of censing as done in church services showed the absence of boswellic acids and their derivatives. The remains left after the thermal treatment were found to contain more stable chemical compounds of frankincense as well as products of its thermal decomposition. A hexane extract of the residue of the studied sample was found to contain odd carbon numbered n-alkanes, which are biomarkers of beeswax. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the studied museum sample is a mixture of beeswax and incense remains left in a censer after a church service.