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Purpose <p>The shrub <i>Commiphora gileadensis</i>, commonly known as Makkah balsam, is native to desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. Its fragrant resins are widely used in traditional medicine and perfumery. This study examined the influence of parent rock type (granite versus basalt) on the secondary metabolite profiles and antioxidant activity of shoots growing under comparable climatic conditions.</p> Methods <p>Solvent extracts from four sites, two on basalt (B1, B2) and two on granite (G1, G2) were analysed by GC–MS. Chemical diversity was evaluated using compound richness, Shannon (H′), Simpson (1 − D), and Pielou (J′) indices, as well as Jaccard similarity. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay (expressed as Trolox equivalents).</p> Results <p>Basalt-derived samples exhibited markedly higher chemical richness (49–50 compounds) and were dominated by sesquiterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives (e.g., β-eudesmol 17.95% and viridiflorol 8.16% in B1). In contrast, granite samples showed lower richness (11–26 compounds) and a distinct chemical profile. Major compounds displayed high intraspecific variability (CV% often &gt; 100%). Jaccard similarity clearly differentiated the populations according to substrate (B1–B2 = 0.612; average basalt–granite similarity ≈ 0.30). Shannon (H′), Simpson (1 − D), and Pielou (J′) diversity indices, as well as antioxidant activity, were consistently higher in basalt extracts, with B1 showing the strongest capacity.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings indicate that <i>C. gileadensis</i> exhibits substantial edaphic-driven chemotypic variation. Nutrient-richer basalt substrates promote greater metabolic diversity and constitutive chemical defenses, whereas oligotrophic granite favors more specialized carbon-based metabolites. This pattern is consistent with the Resource Availability Hypothesis and highlights the importance of substrate-driven plasticity for adaptation in arid ecosystems, with implications for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this medicinally important species.</p>

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Habitat-specific chemotypes in commiphora gileadensis: granite versus basalt parent materials

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

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  • Emad A. Alsherif,
  • Shereen Magdy Korany,
  • Walaa A. Hassan,
  • Mohamed A. Fadl

摘要

Purpose

The shrub Commiphora gileadensis, commonly known as Makkah balsam, is native to desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. Its fragrant resins are widely used in traditional medicine and perfumery. This study examined the influence of parent rock type (granite versus basalt) on the secondary metabolite profiles and antioxidant activity of shoots growing under comparable climatic conditions.

Methods

Solvent extracts from four sites, two on basalt (B1, B2) and two on granite (G1, G2) were analysed by GC–MS. Chemical diversity was evaluated using compound richness, Shannon (H′), Simpson (1 − D), and Pielou (J′) indices, as well as Jaccard similarity. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH assay (expressed as Trolox equivalents).

Results

Basalt-derived samples exhibited markedly higher chemical richness (49–50 compounds) and were dominated by sesquiterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives (e.g., β-eudesmol 17.95% and viridiflorol 8.16% in B1). In contrast, granite samples showed lower richness (11–26 compounds) and a distinct chemical profile. Major compounds displayed high intraspecific variability (CV% often > 100%). Jaccard similarity clearly differentiated the populations according to substrate (B1–B2 = 0.612; average basalt–granite similarity ≈ 0.30). Shannon (H′), Simpson (1 − D), and Pielou (J′) diversity indices, as well as antioxidant activity, were consistently higher in basalt extracts, with B1 showing the strongest capacity.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that C. gileadensis exhibits substantial edaphic-driven chemotypic variation. Nutrient-richer basalt substrates promote greater metabolic diversity and constitutive chemical defenses, whereas oligotrophic granite favors more specialized carbon-based metabolites. This pattern is consistent with the Resource Availability Hypothesis and highlights the importance of substrate-driven plasticity for adaptation in arid ecosystems, with implications for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this medicinally important species.